Summary
The fibrinolytic activity of skin flaps subjected to ischaemia and reperfusion was
studied in five pigs. Total interference with the blood supply up to 24 hours did
not in itself lead to changes in fibrinolytic activity. However, reperfusion of the
skin after six hours of ischaemia caused a dramatic reduction in fibrinolytic activity
measured 18 hours later.
Similar studies on reperfused femoral artery and vein after six hours of ischaemia
showed marked reduction in fibrinolytic activity of the vessels.
It is suggested that reperfusion of tissue made ischaemic for six hours is damaging
and might be a contributory factor to vascular pathology.