Fig. 1.

Wounding approach and skin perfusion pressure. A, B: 4 bipedicle flaps (15 × 5 cm) were developed on the back of domestic white swine. The flaps were freed from the underlying muscle and a sterile silicone sheet (15 × 5 cm) was placed under it to prevent readherence. The incised edges of the flap were sutured to the adjacent skin incorporating the silicone. Full-thickness excisional wounds were developed in the middle of each flap (filled circles) using a 8 mm disposable biopsy punch. Six additional paired wounds were developed similarly in the adjacent nonischemic skin (open circles). Arrows in A indicate direction of blood flow. Scale: the paper strip above the left lumbar flap in B is 10 cm long. C: skin perfusion pressure (SPP) was measured at locations adjacent to the ischemic as well as paired nonischemic wounds. ⧫, The cuff pressure where subcutaneous microcirculation was restored. D: SPP from nonischemic and ischemic wounds. Data are means ± SD (n = 3); *P < 0.01.