Effect of Superior Vena Cava Constriction and Obstruction of Thoracic Duct Lymph Flow on the Liver of the Dog.

SummaryChronic impairment of hepatic lymph drainage in the dog resulting from resection of a segment of thoracic duct and or constriction of the superior vena cava leads to discernible changes in liver histology. These changes, though not quantitatively marked, are comparable to those seen in early cardiac fibrosis of the liver (so-called “cardiac cirrhosis”), and support the hypothesis that some of the changes in the liver associated with venous congestion are due to impairment of lymph drainage.