LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE REDUCES INTESTINAL EDEMA AND FLUID LOSS

Abstract

Lymphatic vessels are important in removing excess fluid from the intestine andtransporting the fluid to veins in the neck. However, in some diseases, neck vein pressure isincreased and the high pressures may slow lymph flow. This study was to test the hypothesis thatlymphatic clearance of fluid from the intestine may be increased by draining the lymphatics.Inflatable cuffs were used to increase neck vein pressure and portal venous pressure inanesthetized sheep. The lymphatic vessel from one segment of small intestine was cannulated anddrained. The lymphatic vessel to a control segment of intestine was left intact. After 90 min. wefound significantly less fluid in the lumen of the drained vs. control segments (7.4 ± 3.1 (SD) mlvs 11.5 ± 4.7 ml per gram dry tissue, respectively). Also we found significantly less tissue fluid inthe drained vs control segments (5.3 ± 0.3 ml/g vs 6.0 ± 0.4 ml/g). The findings support thehypothesis that external diversion of lymph in the presence of an elevated central venouspressure reduces edema formation.