Efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen on survival of random pattern skin flap in diabetic rats
Zhang, T.; Gong, W.; Li, Z.; Yang, S.; Zhang, K.; Yin, D.; Xu, P.; Jia, T.
Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Inc 34(5): 335-339
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 1066-2936 PMID: 18019084 Document Number: 614594
Objectives: This study was designed to determine if hyperbaric oxygen improved random pattern skin flap survival in diabetic rats. Methods: Cranially-based, 4x10cm dorsal skin flaps were raised in 38 diabetic rats induced by streptozoein (STZ). The animals were randomly divided equally into two groups. Group A was a control group observed in the room air and Group B was the experimental group, which received hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy. The HBO2 regimen consisted of 90 minutes of treatment with 100% O-2 at 2.5 ATA (atmosphere absolute ATA) per day for 7 consecutive days. On the 7th postoperative day, we measured the necrotic flap area and the new growth number of capillary vessel and the granulation tissue thickness. Results: The percentage of necrosis flap area for group A was 50.5 +/- 10.5%; for group B it was 38.5 +/- 9.3%. The reduction in necrosis flap area was highly significant (p<0.01) compared with controls. Also, new-growth capillary vessel and granulation tissue thickness were statistically different between the two groups. Conclusions: The findings of this study demonstrated beneficial effects of HBO2 in improving diabetic rat dorsal skin flap survival.