Nicotine on rat TRAM flap

PURPOSE: The transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap is one of the preferential techniques used in breast reconstruction following mastectomy. Nicotine has a detrimental effect on cutaneous flap survival; although there are no experimental studies proving this effect on musculocutaneous flaps. The aim of this study is to verify the effect of nicotine on the rat TRAM flap. METHODS: 30 Wistar EPM-1 rats were randomly distributed in two groups: control and experimental. The animals of the control group received saline solution injected subcutaneously, in a volume of 0.2 ml, twice a day, during 28 days in the preoperative period. The animals of the experimental group were treated with nicotine, injected subcutaneously, in a dose of 2 mg/kg twice a day, during 28 days in the preoperative period. All the animals were submitted to the caudally based, right unipedicled TRAM flap. 48 hours after the procedure, a study of the viable area of the flap was done through photographic documentation. Statistical analysis was performed with nonparametric Mann-Whitney's test. RESULTS: The experimental group had significantly greater area of necrosis when compared with the control group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Nicotine increased the area of necrosis of the TRAM flap, in rats.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ely,Pedro Bins, Kobayashi,Ludmila Aimi, Campos,José Humberto Oliveira, Gomes,Heitor Carvalho, Juliano,Yara, Ferreira,Lydia Masako
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira para o Desenvolvimento da Pesquisa em Cirurgia 2009
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-86502009000300010
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