Süphan Tunç1, Erol Kesiktas2, Yeliz Yilmaz3, Arbil Açikalin4, Gökçen Oran2, Metin Yavuz2, Eyüphan Gencel2, Cengiz Eser2. 1. Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Rize State Hospital, Rize, Turkey. 2. Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Rize, Turkey. 3. Department of General Surgery, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Faculty of Medicine, Training and Research Hospital, Rize, Turkey. 4. Department of Pathology, Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and melatonin, alone and in combination, on McFarlane flap viability in a rat model. METHODS: Forty Wistar rats were divided into four groups and received daily intraperitoneal injections for one week before surgery: control (sham [n=10]); melatonin (n=10); NAC (n=10); and NAC+melatonin (n=10). One week after surgery, the experiment was terminated and photographs were taken for topographic studies. A transillumination study was performed to observe vascularization in the flaps and biopsies were obtained for histopathological studies. RESULTS: Flap viability was significantly greater in the antioxidant- (ie, NAC and melatonin) treated groups compared with the control group; however, there were no significant differences among the groups that received antioxidants. CONCLUSIONS: Melatonin and NAC are important antioxidants that can be used alone or in combination to increase flap viability and prevent distal necrosis in rats.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and melatonin, alone and in combination, on McFarlane flap viability in a rat model. METHODS: Forty Wistar rats were divided into four groups and received daily intraperitoneal injections for one week before surgery: control (sham [n=10]); melatonin (n=10); NAC (n=10); and NAC+melatonin (n=10). One week after surgery, the experiment was terminated and photographs were taken for topographic studies. A transillumination study was performed to observe vascularization in the flaps and biopsies were obtained for histopathological studies. RESULTS: Flap viability was significantly greater in the antioxidant- (ie, NAC and melatonin) treated groups compared with the control group; however, there were no significant differences among the groups that received antioxidants. CONCLUSIONS: Melatonin and NAC are important antioxidants that can be used alone or in combination to increase flap viability and prevent distal necrosis in rats.