A study of blood flow dynamics in flap delay using the full-field laser perfusion imager

It is crucial to monitor spatio-temporal changes in the microcirculation of flaps. A laser speckle imaging technique based on speckle contrast analysis compensates for disadvantages and can assess regional blood flow distribution at high resolution. In this paper, temporal changes in circulation were investigated with full-field laser perfusion imaging (FLPI) in rat dorsal delay random flaps. Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into two groups (delay procedures and controls) with a standardized dorsal random pattern flap (caudally based, 3 x 10 cm). Blood flow dynamics in both groups were studied with FLPI at different time-points, and the size of the surviving and necrotic areas of the flaps, vessel distribution, microvessel density and vessel diameters were appraised. The results showed that blood flow after secondary elevation of the flap did not rapidly decrease in the delay group compared to the control group. Viability of the skin flaps, vessel diameter, and micro-vessel density was significantly improved in the delay group. Delay procedure work by diminishing the resistance to blood flow of the flap with FLPI real-time detection, and laser speckle imaging could be a better method for studying microcirculation and judging flap vascularity. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.