title: Reliability of Poirier's triangle in localizing the thoracic duct in the thorax.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preemptive ligation of the thoracic duct (TD) is occasionally performed during cardiothoracic procedures to prevent chylothorax. Landmarks for localizing this structure are thus important to the surgeon during such procedures. One historically used area for identifying this structure in the thorax is Poirier's triangle. The present paper aimed to investigate the relationship of the TD to Poirier's triangle.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the use of this geometric area in localizing the TD in 35 adult cadavers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Poirier's triangle was found in all specimens, but the TD was found within the confines of Poirier's triangle in only 17 specimens (45.7%). When not identified in Poirier's triangle, the regional TD was often (28.6%) seen in the interval between the proximal left subclavian and left common carotid arteries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data may be of use to the surgeon when identifying the proximal TD within the thorax.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital, Birmingham, AL, USA. rstubbs@uab.edu
authors.forename: R Shane
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tubbs
authors.forename: Nima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Noordeh
authors.forename: Abhisek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parmar
authors.forename: Ayhan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cömert
authors.forename: Marios
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loukas
authors.forename: Mohammadali M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Shoja
authors.forename: Aaron A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cohen-Gadol
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013897:Thoracic Duct / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013909:Thorax / Q000033:anatomy & histology*