Blood flow in expanded tissue treated with an anticontractile agent.

The present study investigates blood flow at several stages of expansion with and without enhancement by anticontractile agents (papaverine). Twelve 1-kg guinea pigs were divided into two groups. In group 1 were six animals undergoing tissue expansion without anticontractile agents, and in group 2 were six animals treated with a saturated solution of papaverine prior to expansion. Laser-Doppler velocimetry was used to monitor the changes in blood perfusion that occurred with each expansion. Animals pretreated with papaverine (group 2) maintained higher blood flow following inflation of the expander than untreated animals (group 1). This study provides physiologic evidence of the benefits of pharmacologic enhancement of the expansion process. Agents of this type may have a future role in the prevention of ischemic complications.