Obesity alters rat abdominal flap survival.

Obesity presents a risk factor for flap-related complications in autologous tissue breast reconstruction. In this study, an animal model was developed to examine this phenomenon. Abdominal flaps based on a superficial inferior epigastric pedicle were elevated in an experimental group of obese Zucker (fa/fa) rats (n = 8; mean weight, 413 g) and in their lean littermates (n = 9; mean weight, 276 g).