Percutaneous Thoracic Duct Cannulation: Feasibility Study in Swine

• Published in: Journal of vascular and interventional radiology Vol. 6; no. 4; pp. 559 - 564
• Main Author: Cope, Constantin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.07.1995
• Subjects: Animals; Catheterization - methods; Catheters and catheterization, technology, 995.1269; Feasibility Studies; Lymphatic system, interventional procedure, 995.1269; Radiography, Interventional; Swine; Thoracic Duct - diagnostic imaging; Thoracic duct, 995.91; CC; TD; Lymphatic system, interventional procedure, 995.1269; Thoracic duct, 995.91; Catheters and catheterization, technology, 995.1269
• ISSN: 1051-0443; 1535-7732
• DOI: 10.1016/S1051-0443(95)71134-4

To assess the feasibility of percutaneous catheterization of the thoracic duct (TD) in 15 pigs. After opacification of the cisterna chyli (CC) with pedal lymphography, the CC is punctured transabdominally with a 21-gauge needle and the TD is catheterized with a 3-F catheter over a guide wire. For retrograde TD catheterization, the guide wire is advanced cephalad to a neck vein, snared, retrieved through the jugular or femoral vein, and used to insert a catheter retrogradely through the lymphovenous junction. The transabdominal wire is removed. Of 15 pigs studied, successful TD catheterization was performed in 13 (antegrade [ n = 4], antegrade-retrograde [ n = 9]). Two failures were due to CC anomalies. No acute complications were noted. A marker was left in the CC, and TD catheterization was repeated in two pigs, 2 and 5 days later. Percutaneous transabdominal TD catheterization in the swine is feasible, safe, and repeatable. This technique has potential clinical applications in organ transplantation and management of TD laceration.