[Experimental investigation of cardiac lymph vascular system (author's transl)]

Ligatures of the supracardiac lymph vessels and the cardiac lymph nodes have been performed in fifty mongrel dogs. Comparative electrocardiographical, light microscopical, scanning and transmission electron microscopical investigations were done one day to three months after surgery. The demonstrated findings confirmed former results concerning the topography and the microstructure of the cardiac lymph vascular drainage system. In addition, the comparative functional and morphological examinations made evident the pathogenetic importance of cardiac lymphostasis. Lymphostatic oedema has been discussed as a pathogenetic co-factor for human heart diseases. Therapeutic attempts on experimental cardiac lymphostasis with i.v. - application of Coumarin-Troxerutin were without effect.