A gut and mesentery pedicle for bridging lymphatic obstruction: experimental studies.

Experiments have been carried out in the pig. Small bowel and its mesentery are rich in lymphatics. A pedicle of ileum (opened and denuded of its mucosa) and its mesentery has been used to bypass lymphatic obstruction. Diversion of lymphatic drainage from the lower limb into the lymphatics of the bridge has been demonstrated lymphographically in the living animals and also by post mortem injection studies.