The contribution of perivascular tissue to the neovascularization of full thickness skin grafts (prefabricated flaps) : an experimental study

The effect of varying amounts of perivascular tissue on the neovascularisation of full thickness skin grafts (prefabricated flaps) in rats was investigated. The femoral vasculature of adult Wistar rats (n = 48) was dissected to varying degrees: Group 1, perivascular areolar tissue and preadventitial tissue preserved; Group 2, perivascular areolar tissue removed, periadventitial tissue preserved; Group 3, femoral artery and vein skeletonised. Full thickness skin grafts harvested from the abdomen were laid on the femoral vessels. Silicone sheets were used to isolate the graft and its vascular supply from the surrounding tissue bed. At set times, from 24 h to 7 days, grafts from each group were harvested and the amount of neovascularisation was evaluated histologically. None of the grafts developed necrosis and all of them showed a progressive degree of neovascularisation. Using chi-square analysis, our study found no evidence that varying the amount of perivascular tissue significantly affected the degree of neovascularisation. In all 3 groups, the degree of neovascularisation was significantly improved over time (p = 0.002).