A clinical study of flap necrosis protection with dexamethasone / 中华整形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This clinical study was to find an effective method to prevent flap from necrosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>When a flap showed blood flow problems, dexamethasone of 0.3 mg/kg was given intravenously for 2 days. Then the dose was decreased to 0.2 mg/kg at the third and the fourth day. At the fifth and the sixth day, dexamethasone of 0.1 mg/kg was given.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 51 flaps with blood flow problems was treated with this method. Thirty of them recovered completely; 18 survived mostly and 3 failed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Early application of dexamethasone can effectively ameliorate blood flow problems of the flap.</p>