The effect of anaesthesia and surgery on lymph flow, protein and leucocyte concentration in lymph of the sheep.

Anaesthesia and the trauma of surgery, associated with the cannulation of lymphatic ducts in various regions of the body of the sheep, had a profound effect on lymph flow, protein concentration and leucocyte concentration of lymph. In general lymph flow was depressed and the protein concentration elevated in lymph collected at the time of cannulation, or within the first 24 hours of recovery from surgery. The changes in protein concentration in lymph draining the peripheral regions of the body appeared to be due to surgical interference in the region of drainage. The greatest changes in lymph flow were observed in lymph draining peripheral regions (skin, tendon, muscular areas) while lymph draining soft tissues in central regions (kidney, liver) was less affected by the anaesthesia and surgical stress. A neutrophilia was observed in venous blood collected under anaesthesia while the overall numbers of lymphocytes in three sources of efferent lymph were depressed. It is suggested that corticosteroid hormones may play a role in the changes in leucocyte migration observed during anaesthesia and surgical stress. Changes observed in the cellular content of afferent lymph appeared to be due to a low grade inflammation associated with surgical interference in the region of lymphatic drainage.