Effect of intravenous prostaglandin E1 on experimental flaps.

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) is a kind of prostaglandin that produces vasodilation of the peripheral vessels and platelet disaggregation, similar to prostacyclin (PGI2). The effects of PGE1 administered intraarterially or intravenously on peripheral vascular disease have been reported by many authors. In this investigation, 2 experiments were designed to assess the effect of intravenous infusion of PGE1 on the experimental skin flaps in rabbits. In the first experiment, the blood flow in the flap was measured before and after the administration of PGE1 by using the technique of clearance of hydrogen gas, which was generated by electrolysis. The result indicated a biphasic effect of PGE1 on the blood flow in the flap. That is, the low dose (3 micrograms per kilogram per hour) increased the blood flow on the critical line of the dye distance, while the high dose (20 micrograms per kilogram per hour) decreased it. The second experiment, in which the survival length was measured, indicated the practical effect of intravenous infusion of PGE1 on flap survival.