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COMBINED MONITORING OF THORACIC DUCT AND LUNG LYMPH DURING E. COLI SEPSIS IN AWAKE SHEEP

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Abstract

A thoracic duct lymph fistula in combination with a lung lymph fistula in the awake sheep was used to evaluate effects of thoracic lymph diversion during a septic insult and to monitor systemic and local changes in the lung and gastrointestinal tract. Live Escherichia coli 10⁹ kg^-1 b.w. were infused in 9 sheep. After sepsis, arterial pressure, cardiac output, partial pressure of oxygen, leukocytes and platelets decreased significantly compared to baseline values. Pulmonary arterial pressure increased significantly throughout the experiment with peak values at 44 +/- 4 mmHg after 15 minutes. Lung lymph flow (Q_L) (n = 6) increased from 23 +/- 0.5 to 11.2 +/- 2.4 ml/30 minutes after 60 minutes. Q_L then decreased but remained elevated. Lymph to plasma protein concentration ratio (L/P) in lung lymph decreased from 0.62 +/- 0.02 during baseline to 0.47 +/- 0.04 after 60 minutes. L/P then increased and was, after 150 minutes, no longer different from baseline. These lung lymph data favor increased pulmonary microvascular permeability during sepsis. Lymph flow in the thoracic duct (Q_T) (n = 9) increased from 34.2 +/- 6 to 58.3 +/- 9 ml/30 minutes during the first 30 minutes after bacterial infusion. Q_T was, after 90 minutes, back to baseline but then progressively increased. L/P in thoracic lymph steadily increased from 0.56 +/- 0.03 to 0.78 +/- 0.04. Thromboxane B₂ and 6-keto PGF_1alpha in thoracic duct and lung lymph increased significantly after bacterial infusion and remained elevated thereafter. Combined monitoring of thoracic duct and lung lymph enabled comparison of systemic and pulmonary reactions in septic sheep.

How to Cite:

Smith, L., Andreasson, S., Saldeen, T. & Risberg, B., (1988) “COMBINED MONITORING OF THORACIC DUCT AND LUNG LYMPH DURING E. COLI SEPSIS IN AWAKE SHEEP”, Lymphology 21(3), 169-177.