Objective: This clinical study was to find an effective method to prevent flap from necrosis.
Methods: When a flap showed blood flow problems, dexamethasone of 0.3 mg/kg was given intravenously for 2 days. Then the dose was decreased to 0.2 mg/kg at the third and the fourth day. At the fifth and the sixth day, dexamethasone of 0.1 mg/kg was given.
Results: A total of 51 flaps with blood flow problems was treated with this method. Thirty of them recovered completely; 18 survived mostly and 3 failed.
Conclusion: Early application of dexamethasone can effectively ameliorate blood flow problems of the flap.