Blood Flow Through Granulation Tissue in Bipedicle Tube Flaps: An Experimental Study

Abstract

The blood flow through granulation tissue in bipedicle tube flaps on rabbits was measured during 6 weeks by ¹³³Xenon clearance from implanted steel wire mesh cylinders. Wire mesh cylinders implanted in skin folds were used as controls in another group of animals. In addition both groups of animals had cylinders implanted in subcutaneous pockets. The clearance from the latter cylinders was similar each week. The groups were therefore considered equal in their general circulatory status. The clearance increased similarly in skin flap and skin fold cylinders to week 2, which was ascribed to the development of capillaries in the granulation tissue. From week 2 to week 4 the clearance decreased in skin flap cylinders, probably owing to a decreasing regional blood flow through the flaps. This assumption was supported by the finding of a smaller concentration of hemoglobin, regarded as a measure of the capillary density, in the granulation tissue of skin flap cylinders. After week 4 fat appeared in the granulation tissue, which disturbed blood flow calculation from the ¹³³Xenon clearance values. The weight of the granulation tissue in the cylinders at week 6 was equal, which indicated a similar healing potential despite a lower blood flow in flaps.