Post-Anesthetic Tissue Necrosis in Experimental Pedicle Skin Flaps

Abstract

Anesthetics like ether, halothane and methoxyflurane may cause side effects on the circulation of pedicle skin flaps. In patients operated under halothane anesthesia the circulatio of pedicle skin flaps was observed to be exceptionally often disturbed. The authors demonstrated in experimental pedicle skin flaps in rats, that halothane may cause larger necrotic changes than expected, especially if the flap is of unfavourable size and “critical” and subjected to bleeding.