EFFECT OF INCREASED SYSTEMIC VENOUS PRESSURE ON THORACIC DUCT AND PERIPHERAL LYMPH FLOW IN DOGS

T Sakai, S Yabuki, K Chang, T Kambayashi, R Nakamura, N Takeyasu, K Taira, A Hirota, K Machii, K Seki

Abstract


In congestive heart failure, lymph flow from the
cannulated thoracic duct is greatly increased.
However, there has been scant data on lymph flow
in the intact lymphatic system with systemic circulatory
congestion. In the present study, thoracic
duct and peripheral lymph flow were qualitatively
determined using heated cross-thermocouples in seven
mongrel dogs. Central venous pressure was raised artifically
by infusing large volumes of crystalloid solution
equivalent to a maximum of 30% of body
weight. Although both thoracic duct and peripheral
lymph flow increased with an intact (closed) lymphatic
system, the increase was notably less than
with a transected (opened) cervical thoracic duct.
With systemic circulatory congestion, cannulated
thoracic duct lymph flow circumvents a major lymph
impediment to lymph flow (i.e. high central venous
pressure) and therefore considerably overestimates in
vivo central lymph flow in this condition.


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