Dichloroacetate reduces tissue necrosis in a rat transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap model.

Objective: Ischemia-related complications may occur during postmastectomy transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap reconstruction. The aim of our study was to investigate whether necrosis of susceptible flap regions could be reduced by dichloroacetate (DCA)-induced stimulation of oxidative metabolism in hypoxic tissue.

Methods: The study was a randomized control trial using male Sprague-Dawley rats.