Reestablishment of lymphatic drainage after canine lung transplantation. Discussion

The technique of pulmonary lymphoscintigraphy was used to evaluate pulmonary lymphatic flow and to assess reestablishment of lymphatic drainage after lung transplantation. A first group of six control dogs underwent percutaneous transthoracic injection of a radiocolloid into the periphery of the left upper and lower lobes. Radiocolloids are large molecules tagged with radioisotopes that are absorbed only through lymph and are concentrated in tributary lymph nodes. Twenty-four hours after injection the dogs underwent scintigraphic studies of the chest and upper part of the abdomen. Mediastinal lymph nodes were visualized in all animals