The effect of pentoxifylline on venous flap survival

Abstract

An experimental study was performed to determine whether the survival area of a flap can be increased using pentoxifylline in a single-pedicled venous skin flap in the rat. Epigastric island venous skin flaps measuring 1.5×2.5 cm were constructed bilaterally. The experimental group received intraperitoneal injections of pentoxifylline 25 mg/kg daily for 7 days following the operation. This study shows the pentoxifylline had no beneficial effect on single-pedicled venous island skin flap viability in the rat model.