An experimental study of the effect of pre-operative administration of cilostazol on random skin flap survival in rats: double blinded randomized controlled trial.

Background: Insufficient arterial blood flow is the one cause of flap necrosis. Cilostazol is an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase III and increases cyclic AMP level in vascular smooth muscle cell causing vasodilation. Therefore, effect of cilostazol is expected to improve the viability of the flap.