Lymphatic Management in Single-Ventricle Patients

Abstract

Lymphatic complications in patients with single ventricle include plastic bronchitis, protein-losing enteropathy, and chylous pleural effusion are a source of significant morbidity and mortality with historically limited therapeutic options. Novel lymphatic imaging techniques such as intranodal lymphangiography, dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance lymphangiography and liver lymphangiography have allowed visualization of the lymphatic system and discovery of the pathophysiological mechanism of these conditions. This mechanism includes the combination of 2 factors: increased lymphatic flow in patients with elevated central venous pressure and presence of the lymphatic anatomical variant that allows the lymph to flow in close proximity to the serous (pleural space in chylothorax) or mucosal (plastic bronchitis and protein losing enteropathy) surfaces. Novel minimally invasive lymphatic interventional techniques, such as thoracic duct embolization, interstitial embolization and liver lymphatic embolization have allowed the obliteration of these abnormal lymphatic networks, resulting in resolution of the symptoms. Further refinement of the imaging techniques and interventional methods have subsequently allowed better patient selection and improved long term outcome of these procedures.