Tissue pH Monitoring in Microsurgery: A Preliminary Evaluation of Continuous Tissue pH Monitoring As an Indicator of Perfusion Disturbances in Microvascular Free Flaps

Autor: Douglas J. Raskin, Melvin Spira, Melissinos Eg, Yucel Erk
Rok vydání: 1983
Předmět:
Zdroj: Annals of Plastic Surgery. 11:331-339
ISSN: 0148-7043
DOI: 10.1097/00000637-198310000-00013
Popis: In an experiment using a continuous tissue pH monitoring system, selective occlusion of the vessels supplying lower abdominal island flaps in Sprague-Dawley rats resulted in predictable tissue pH changes. Arterial occlusion resulted in a rapid fall in pH. In all three experimental groups, the steepest rate of pH drop occurred during the first 30 minutes postocclusion. In a series of 9 patients who underwent microvascular free flap surgery the continuous pH monitor was employed postoperatively. Tissue pH was (and remained) normal in well-perfused free flaps. Tissue pH fell almost immediately with anastomotic failures. These findings demonstrate that pH measurement offers the microvascular surgeon a new, simple, and reliable approach to perfusion assessment in free flaps. Perhaps improved survival rates will result from earlier anastomotic exploration in compromised free flaps that exhibit falling pH values.
Databáze: OpenAIRE