An experimental study on the effect of nifedipine on ischaemic skin flap survival in rats.

Vasodilators have been employed previously in an attempt to improve survival of ischaemic rat skin flaps. The effect of nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker, on skin flap survival was studied using a standard experimental rat model. The control group had a mean flap necrosis of 37.009%. Rats treated by nifedipine starting 1 day preoperatively and continued for 1 week postoperatively had a mean necrosis of 10.0953%. Rats treated by nifedipine started postoperatively and continued for 1 week had a mean flap necrosis of 12.289%. Treated groups had significantly lower flap necrosis in comparison to untreated controls. There was no significant difference in flap necrosis between the two treated groups. This study shows that nifedipine improves survival in standard ischaemic rat skin flaps.