Research published in WOUNDS has shown that the incident of flap necrosis can be significantly decreased with the peptides, adrenomedullin (ADM) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).

Using rats, researchers cut a cutaneous flap measuring 8 x 3cm in their abdomens and treated four different groups. The control group was treated with saline and the other three groups were treated with different doses of ADM and GLP-1. All three groups that were treated with peptides had an increase of blood flow to their wound flaps, decreasing necrosis when applied to the superficial inferior epigastric artery. Blood flow was shown to reach all areas of the flaps with the same statistical evidence for all doses.

To see the study, click here.

Image: Rat. Credit: jepoirier on Flickr.