X-Message-Number: 17354 Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 20:31:56 -0700 (PDT) From: Doug Skrecky <> Subject: skin flap viability and DMSO Title Improved outcome of surgical flaps treated with topical dimethylsulfoxide. Source Annals of Surgery. 224(4):583-9; discussion 589-90, 1996 Oct. Abstract OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) on skin flap viability. BACKGROUND: Dimethylsulfoxide has been shown to decrease necrosis of random skin flaps in the rat model, but no human studies have been performed. The authors performed a randomized, prospective study on the effect of DMSO on skin flap viability in patients undergoing mastectomy and inguinal lymphadenectomy. METHODS: Twenty-four patients had topical 60% DMSO applied to their flaps every 4 hours x 10 days after operation and 27 patients had operation alone. The maximum area of flap ischemia was traced by a masked observer and measured by cut and weigh technique. Significance of differences between the treatment and control group was determined by Student's test. RESULTS: The mean area of ischemia for the DMSO group was 16.33 U versus 44.93 U for the control group. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that topical application of DMSO reduces skin flap ischemia in humans and recommend its use after operation in which skin flaps are created. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=17354