Experience with calcium antagonists nitrendipine, diltiazem, and verapamil and β2‐agonist salbutamol in salvaging ischemic skin flaps in rabbits

Abstract

This study investigated the efficacy of selected agents in the salvage of experimental skin flaps in rabbits after 21 hours of 25°C ischemia. Calcium channel antagonists nitrendipine, diltiazem, and verapamil increased ischemic skin flap survival in rabbits from 33.3% for buffered saline infused controls to 71.4% (P < 0.05), 71.4% (P < 0.05), and 50.0% (not significant) respectively. The β2‐adrenoceptor agonist salbutamol produced an increase in survival to 64.3%, which narrowly missed statistical significance. All four test agents invoked a vasodilatory response (greatest for nitrendipine, diltiazem, and salbutamol), a slight fall in blood pressure, and a small increase in heart rate. It is..