Ischemic necrosis: prevention by stress.

Complete interruption of the circulation, by means of a special clip, in a skin flap during 9 hours results in necrosis of the ischemic area. Prior treatment with various severe stressors (spinal-cord transection, prolonged restraint, quadriplegia due to transection of motor nerves, forced exercise, or cold baths), as well as systemic injection of epinephrine, norepinephrine, or chlorpromazine, offers virtually complete protection against this form of topical tissue injury.