The Use of Doppler/Power Doppler Ultrasound and Angiography for the Evaluation of Cutaneous Perforators in the Thigh and Lumbar-Sacral Region in Pigs

Introduction: Highlighting perforating cutaneous arteries in pig, by imaging methods, is of special importance, for detecting local and regional vascular flaps with perforating pressure source, in reconstructive surgery. However there is a high degree of variability in terms of their anatomical availability. Methodology and Material: To identify the cutaneous vascularity, Doppler Color/Power Doppler ultrasound and angiography was used as an imaging method for the investigation and Optiray 320 as contrast substance. Imaging assessment was performed on the total of 10 pigs of the breed PIC F II. On each of them, the thigh and rump region was mapped and each region was divided into quadrants in the size of 10/10 cm. For each individual quadrant, the number of perforating vessels in the skin, visible at least 1 cm under the integument, was quantified. For each region it took at least 2-3 examinations of several incidences to identify the spatial position of the vessels identified with more precision. Results: The data was recorded using the ultrasound and then subsequently with the angiography. For each separated region, the number of the vessels identified through the Doppler ultrasound technique and the angiographic examination were quantified on all the 10 pigs. Obtained data was compared using Student’s t -test. Conclusions: Statistical assessment revealed that statistical differences exist between the imaging methods used ( p < 0.05) and the variability of the distribution of cutaneous perforators depending on the region examined. The present study is part from a larger project called “Experimental model for detection of cutaneous perforator vessels and determination of a clinically applicable algorithm in cutaneous flaps surgery.” In this project a specialized documentation was created as well as experimental models for pigs, which enabled the perfecting of a detection technique with imaging methods of the main perforating vascular branches across the whole body surface of the pig and map-making of these segments as well as imaging determination of the actual territories of vascular perforators identified in pigs.