Thoracic Duct and Right Lymphatic Duct: Surgical Approaches for Drainage in the Canine with Comparison of Cellular and Chemical Contents

Abstract

The technics of drainage of the right lymphatic duct (RD) and thoracic duct (TD) used in our laboratory have been described and illustrated. In two series of experiments the components of RD and of TD lymph were compared to blood plasma collected concurrently. RD and TD lymph, collected concurrently, were also compared in a third series. RD and TD lymph differ in a number of ways including rate of flow, enzyme activity, cell count and lipid-electrophoretic patterns. The limitations of RD lymph for the study of fluid and protein dynamics of the lungs and the cell population of lung lymph are outlined. Higher levels of enzyme activity in RD compared to TD lymph have been noted. This phenomena appears to depend on a number of complex factors.

The role of lymphatics in removing pleural liquid in discrete hydrothorax

“…In the group with lymphatic duct ligation (LDL) (six dogs), the thoracic duct and right lymphatic duct were ligated at the neck as described by LEEDs et al [10]. A longitudinal incision was made on the right side of the neck through the pectoralis superficialis muscle.…”