THE EFFECT OF HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY (HBOT) ON VIABILITY OF RANDOM PATTERN SKIN FLAP IN RAT

Vascularization has a main role in flap survival as it to keep the viability of the flap. Blood was delivered to the tip of flap by interconnecting subdermal plexus. In the viability of flap context, angiogenesis process is needed to maintain vascular blood supply because some pre-existing vessel was interrupted by elevation of cutaneous flap. In this study we examined Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) to increase oxygen levels in the rats microvascular circulation, thereby reducing the area of necrotic flap ultimately improve survival. HBOT can also increase the effectiveness of angiogenic factors, particularly VEGF in angiogenesis in the flap, so that the flap survival can be improve