Impeded interstitial fluid movement: a factor in pancreatic oedema.

Pancreatic oedema was induced by physiological saline infused into the superior pancreatico-duodenal artery of 34, chloralose anaesthetized dogs. Both lymph flow from cannulated pancreatico-duodenal lymphatics and intralymphatic pressure in the non-transected ones increased significantly. The increase in pressure may be due to the regional lymph nodes obstructing increased lymph flow. The development of gross pancreatic oedema preceded the peak values of pancreatico-duodenal lymph flow and pressure. This suggested impeded fluid movement along tissue interstices and from tissue interstices into the pancreatic lymphatics. The progression of the oedema ran roughly parallel with the increase in fluid pressure measured by a perforated capsule implanted two weeks earlier into pancreatic tissues supplied by the artery. The results suggest that both the rise in lymph flow and pressure during the development of oedema in lobular organs like the pancreas are rather the consequences and not the causes of oedema.