A wireless infrared thermometry device for postoperative flap monitoring: Proof of concept in a porcine flap model

The application of flap surgery is becoming more and more widespread with the development of microsurgical techniques. Currently, postoperative blood flow monitoring of flaps is still mainly assessed by medical staff for traditional clinical parameters, which has the disadvantage of being subjective and unable to monitor in real-time. This study describes a self-contained infrared wireless infrared thermometry device for flap blood supply monitoring and evaluates its effectiveness on eight porcine flap models. A scapular muscle flap model was established using eight small pigs, and the vessels were ligated at irregular intervals using a lumir ligature to simulate arterial crisis and venous crisis. Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), the wireless infrared thermometry device, and traditional clinical observation methods were applied to monitor the blood supply of the flap and evaluate the effect. The time to the determination of blood supply disturbance by wireless infrared thermography (IRT) was 28.75 +/- 3.30 min and 96.5 +/- 27.09 min for the arterial and venous groups, respectively; by LDF was 6.00 +/- 1.41 min and 52.75 +/- 15.76 min; by clinical observation was 42.00 +/- 8.60 min and 156.50 +/- 40.91 min, respectively. Paired t-tests were performed between the wireless IRT device and clinical observations, and the statistical results were significantly different in the arterial group and not significantly different in the venous group. Paired t-testing of the wireless infrared thermometry device with the LDF also showed significant differences in the arterial group and non-significant differences in the venous group. This wireless infrared thermometry device outperforms traditional clinical observation methods in monitoring blood supply in a porcine skin flap model. Because of its low cost, real-time monitoring, simple operation, and non-invasive features, it has the potential to be used in clinical practice as a routine means of postoperative blood supply monitoring in flap surgery.