PERCUTANEOUS THORACIC-DUCT CANNULATION - FEASIBILITY STUDY IN SWINE

PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility of percutaneous catheterization of the thoracic duct (TD) in 15 pigs, MATERIALS AND METHODS: After opacification of the cisterna chyli (CC) with pedal lymphography, the CC is punctured transabdominally with a al-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. RESULTS: 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, CONCLUSIONS: 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.