The fluorescein test is widely used to assess perfusion in skin flaps but tends to underestimate skin viability when visual inspection under ultraviolet light is employed. Fiberoptic dermofluorometry, which has recently been introduced, more accurately assesses fluorescein distribution in skin flaps than does visual inspection. Viability of the back flap in rats receiving ionizing radiation was evaluated by dermofluorometry. This technique was highly accurate in predicting viability and has great applicability for studying blood flow in irradiated tissues.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
. PratherABlackburnJPWilliamsTRLynnJA: Evaluation of tests for predicting the viability of axial pattern skin flaps in the pig. Plast Reconstr Surg63: 250–257, 1979.
2.
. McCrawJBMyersBShanklinKD: The value of fluorescein in predicting the viability of arterialized flaps. Plast Reconstr Surg60: 710–719, 1977.
3.
. ThorvaldssonSEGrabbWC: The intravenous flourescein test as a measure of skin flap viability. Plast Reconstr Surg53: 576–578, 1974.
4.
. HynesWMacGregorAG: The use of fluorescein in estimating the blood flow in pedicled skin flaps. Br J Plast Surg2: 4–12, 1949.
5.
. MyersMB: Prediction of skin sloughs at the time of operation with the use of flourescein dye. Surgery51: 158–163, 1962.
6.
. SingerERLewisCMFranklinJDLynchJB: Fluorescein test for prediction of flap viability in breast reconstructions. Plast Reconstr Surg61: 371–375, 1978.
7.
. DoneganJO: The assessment and enhancement of skin flap viability. Head Neck Surg2: 470–475, 1980.
8.
. GoodeRLLinehanJW: The fluorescein test in postirradiation surgery. Arch Otolaryngol91: 526–528, 1970.
9.
. LangeKKrewerSE: The dermofluorometer. J Lab Clin Med28: 1746–1750, 1943.
10.
. SilvermanDGLaRossaDDBarlowCHBeringTGPopkyLMSmithTC: Quantification of tissue fluorescein delivery and prediction of flap viability with the fiberoptic dermofluorometer. Plast Reconstr Surg66: 548–553, 1980.
11.
. SilvermanDGCedroneFAHurfordWEBeringTGLaRossaDD: Monitoring tissue fluorescein with the fiberoptic fluorometer: A new method to assess capillary blood flow. Surgery90: 409–417, 1981.
12.
. VidasMCWeismanRASilvermanDG: Serial perfusion fluorometry in the assessment of experimental neurovascular island flaps. Arch Otolaryngol (In press.)
13.
. SilvermanDGDennenyJCBrousseauDAWeismanRA: Continuous monitoring of flap perfusion by fiberoptic fluorometry. Surg Forum33: 559–561, 1982.
14.
. MacFarlaneRMDe YoungGHenryRA: The design of a pedicle flap in the rat to study necrosis and its prevention. Plast Reconstr Surg35: 177–182, 1965.
