Establishing the rabbit dorsal prefabricated flap model with lead oxide microangiography / 中华整形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective@#This study aims to establish a model of prefabricated flaps on the back of rabbits, with the purpose to explore the optimal concentration of lead oxide suspension for microangiography.@*Methods@#Twenty clean grade male New Zealand white rabbits, with the weigh at 3.5-4.0 kg, were selected for the prefabricated flap model, pedicled with thoracodorsal vascular bundles, through 2-staged surgeries. Traditional flap model was established on the back of 2 rabbits. Small pieces of flap were taken for HE stain at 7th and 14th day after initial surgery. The time of second operation was determined by this result. Prefabricated flap models were established on the remained 18 rabbits, and divided into 9 groups. Nine different concentrations of lead oxide suspension (60%, 50%, 40%, 37%, 33%, 30%, 27%, 23%, and 20%) were injected through the aorta for each group, on 7 days after the 2nd surgery. The microangiographic results of gross specimen and prefabricated flap were observed by X-ray imaging.@*Results@#Microvascular lumens were observed by HE stain, on 14 days after the initial surgery. The number of microvessels in each 200× high power field, increased from 1-2 on day 7 to 10-20 on day 14. The vascularization process was mature. These suggest the prefabricated flap is ready for second surgery. Lead oxide perfusion angiography showed that there was non-development of tertiary arteries at 60% and 50% concentration. Tertiary arteries were not well developed at 40%, 37% or under 30% concentration. Clear arteriole development could only be obtained at 33% and 30% concentrations.@*Conclusions@#In this study, a rabbit model of prefabricated flap pedicled with thoracodorsal vascular bundles was successfully constructed by 2-staged surgeries. The microvasculature of the flap could be clearly displayed using lead oxide suspension with the concentration of 30%-33%.