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Title: Assessment of the viability of skin grafts

Journal Article · · Semin. Nucl. Med.; (United States)

A number of tests are available to monitor the blood flow in free and distant pedicle skin grafts. The information from these tests aids in the development of measures to enhance vascularization and is occasionally needed to make clinical decisions in patients with distant pedicle grafts. Measurements of the disappearance of an intradermally injected small amount of /sup 133/Xe allows determination of a clearance rate and blood flow before and after clamping the original blood supply through the base. With /sup 99m/Tc, which is generally more readily available, a flow index and block index can be determined. Clinically both procedures give equally good results in determining a safe time for pedicle base separation. The fluorescein test allows assessment of regional blood flow distribution within the pedicle.

Research Organization:
Mayo Medical School, Rochester, MN (USA)
OSTI ID:
6581795
Journal Information:
Semin. Nucl. Med.; (United States), Vol. 18:3
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English