Verapamil enhances the survival of primary ischemic venous obstructed

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rodent skin flaps. Carpenter RJ. Angel MF. Amiss LR. Masterson TM. Morgan RF. Archives of Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery. 119(9):1015-7, 1993 Sep. The effect of verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, on the survival of skin flaps subjected to primary venous obstruction was studied. Skin flaps 9 x 4 cm, which are axial patterns with random extension, were elevated in Sprague-Dawley rats. A microvascular clamp was placed on the vein alone for 8 hours. Group 1 received verapamil (0.3 mg/kg) before flap elevation and before clamp release; group 2 received saline on the same schedule. Group 3 received verapamil (0.3 mg/kg) as above, plus every 8 hours for 5 days postoperatively. Group 4 received saline on the same schedule. There was no difference in survival between groups 1 and 2. Group 3 had 100% improvement in the flap survival compared with group 4 (78% vs 37%). Verapamil, if administered for the duration of the experiment, significantly increased flap survival.