TY - JOUR
T1 - In vivo monitoring of microvessels in skin flaps
T2 - Introduction of a novel technique
AU - Langer, Stefan
AU - Biberthaler, Peter
AU - Harris, Anthony Gustave
AU - Steinau, Hans Ulrich
AU - Messmer, Konrad
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Orthogonal polarization spectral (OPS) imaging was validated against intravital fluorescence microscopy (IFM) for microvascular measurements in skin flaps of hairless mice. Examinations were performed 1, 6, and 24 hours after elevation (n = 8) with both OPS imaging and IFM. A fluorescent dye was a prerequisite for IFM measurements but not for OPS imaging. Our findings show that OPS imaging can visualize the skin flap microcirculation independent from the application of fluorescent tracers. From these images, quantitative analysis of functional capillary density (FCD) was feasible. As expected, FCD was significantly lower in the distal part of the flap compared with its base (171.8 ± 34.7 versus 62.0 ± 25.6, mean ± SD; 1 hour data). Comparison of OPS imaging and IFM revealed a significant correlation of FCD values (P < 0.001) at all time points. Given the success of this validation study on mouse skin flaps, clinical investigations will have to prove that OPS imaging can also successfully be used to monitor flaps in humans.
AB - Orthogonal polarization spectral (OPS) imaging was validated against intravital fluorescence microscopy (IFM) for microvascular measurements in skin flaps of hairless mice. Examinations were performed 1, 6, and 24 hours after elevation (n = 8) with both OPS imaging and IFM. A fluorescent dye was a prerequisite for IFM measurements but not for OPS imaging. Our findings show that OPS imaging can visualize the skin flap microcirculation independent from the application of fluorescent tracers. From these images, quantitative analysis of functional capillary density (FCD) was feasible. As expected, FCD was significantly lower in the distal part of the flap compared with its base (171.8 ± 34.7 versus 62.0 ± 25.6, mean ± SD; 1 hour data). Comparison of OPS imaging and IFM revealed a significant correlation of FCD values (P < 0.001) at all time points. Given the success of this validation study on mouse skin flaps, clinical investigations will have to prove that OPS imaging can also successfully be used to monitor flaps in humans.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035153561&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/micr.1058
DO - 10.1002/micr.1058
M3 - Article
C2 - 11754431
AN - SCOPUS:0035153561
SN - 0738-1085
VL - 21
SP - 317
EP - 324
JO - Microsurgery
JF - Microsurgery
IS - 7
ER -