Pharmacologic treatment of the failing skin flap.

Pigs with random skin flaps were treated with phenoxybenzamine, isoxsuprine, or reserpine. No significant increase in flap survival was detected. In selected animals, cutaneous blood flow was measured using the microsphere technique. Of the drugs tested, reserpine was the only one to cause a significant increase in cutaneous blood flow. Previous clinical and experimental studies on the treatment of failing skin flaps are reviewed. The important criteria for designing future pharmacologic studies are discussed.