A SIMPLIFIED METHOD FOR CANNULATION OF THE NORMAL CANINE CERVICAL THORACIC DUCT

Abstract

In view of the reawakened interest in the lymph circulation, a description of a
simplified technique for cannulation of the thoracic duct in the neck of the dog is timely. Markowitz states (1) that the anatomy of the cervical thoracic duct in the normal dog varies, that the duct often subdivides into multiple channels, and that successful cannulation is often difficult or even impossible. He suggests obstruction of internal, external jugular and subclavian veins, or isolation of these veins into a closed pouch at the entry of the thoracic duct - inconvenient or indirect methods for exposure of the thoracic duct and for collection of lymph. Using the position shown in Fig. 1 we have been uniformly successful in isolating and cannulating the thoracic duct with ease in the neck of normal dogs.