Tiam Mana Saffari

61 THE SUPERFICIAL INFERIOR EPIGASTRIC ARTERY FASCIA FLAP IN RATS 3 RESULTS Evaluation SIEF flap Successful flap transfer was accomplished in all rats. After 12 and 16 weeks rats were sacrificed and flap viability was investigated. The patency of the artery was checked with the milking patency test at sacrifice and all arteries were patent after 12 and 16 weeks survival. The flap was well vascularized and demonstrated active bleeding at its margins. The vessels were in line with the nerve graft (Figure 6). No flap necrosis occurred and no infections were seen. Of the 12 week survival rats, lymphedema occurred in two, which did not infect or complicate recovery and resolved by itself. In one rat, a small subcutaneous hematoma was seen on the abdominal side at four weeks, which did not increase size during follow up and did not have any impact on the SIEF flap. The 16 week survival rats did not show any complications. The SIEF flap had an acceptable and aesthetic donor site scar without any observable loss of function. Figure 6. Relation superficial inferior epigastric (SIE) vessels and nerve after 16 weeks. The white dashed line surrounds the nerve allograft (A). Depicted is the close relationship between the nerve allograft (A) and the SIE vessels (B) after 16 weeks of survival. Also, flap viability could clearly be seen.