Table 1 Experimental protocol for the different groups (n = 11 rats each group). Groups I–III included rats with a veno-arterial anastomosis. Group I included rats with a veno-arterial anastomosis without preconditioning: the epigastric flap was raised, and a purely venous perfusion system was constructed. On the same day, the flap was sutured back into the epigastric defect (Fig. 1). In group II, a veno-arterial anastomosis was constructed, but the flap was raised and set back into the epigastric defect 7 days later for preconditioning. In group III, a similar venous-only perfusion was constructed, but the flap was raised and set back after an interval of 14 days for a longer preconditioning period. In the control group (IV), a standard arterial epigastric flap (based on the epigastric pedicle) was raised, the epigastric artery with its femoral origin was cut and re-anastomosed, and the flap was directly sutured back into the epigastric defect. All flaps were assessed 7 days after flap raising.

From: Conditioning of microvascular venous flaps in rats