The effects of short-term preservation on microvascular free groin flaps in rats

Free groin flaps taken from rats were preserved by refrigeration at 4°C in either lactated Ringers solution or tissue culture medium for various periods of time. The results indicate that a high survival rate can be expected at periods up to 72 hours, but there was no success in preserving flaps longer than 72 hours. These preliminary experimental findings suggest that, clinically, a high survival rate can be achieved in free flaps following excision from donor sites even if the microvascular transfer must be postponed for a period up to but not exceeding 48 hours.