Effect of core cooling on flap survival

This study demonstrates a benefit from core cooling in the survival of a vascular island flap model, which includes the panniculus carnosus of the rat. The study shows that increased flap survival was associated with cold injury to the contralateral extremity and tail of the rats. The linear relationship between core temperatures and heart rate was observed. The model demonstrates that it is possible to maintain stable blood pressure and pH over long operative periods in small animals, with postoperative survival.