Anatomical variations of the carotid arteries in adult Kenyans

Abstract

Objective: to describe the topography and anatomical variations of the carotid arteries among Kenyans. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Setting: department of human Anatomy, university of nairobi. Subjects: eighty carotid arteries of forty cadavers were dissected. Results: the bifurcation of the commonest carotid artery was high (above the reference points) in 63.8% of vessels and the external carotid was antero-lateral to the internal carotid artery in 30% of the vessels. A linguo-facial trunk was the most common variation of the external carotid artery. the origin of the right common carotid artery was high and low in 10% and 2.6% of vessels respectively. Conclusion: the carotid arteries show important variability and thus emphasise caution for clinicians during surgical procedures in the neck.

Anatomical Variations of the Common Carotid Artery Bifurcations in Relation to the Cervical Vertebrae in Ethiopia

“…The level of bifurcation according to the research done in Kenya on 40 cadavers was symmetrical in all cases [7], and another study done in Japan, Tokyo, on 49 cadavers found no difference in level between the two sides in all cases [13].…”

“…A high common carotid artery bifurcation possesses a higher risk of being hit by intra articular screws during procedures on cervical the vertebrae [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Thus, knowledge on the anatomical variations of the carotid bifurcation (CB) is necessary for the correct interpretation of results obtained by means of different radiological procedures and for vascular surgical procedures in the region mainly because of the significant rates of the occurrence of variations.…”

Morphological variation of carotid artery bifurcation level in digital angiography

“…Morimoto et al [17] presented such a case in whom the non-bifurcating left carotid artery gave origin to all branches normally given off by the ECA, and subsequently constituted the ICA [17]. In head and neck surgery, CCA and its bifurcation level are important landmarks, defining the plane of the dissection during radical neck surgery [1]. Differential diagnosis requires the awareness of possible changed topography of the structures like carotid sinus (CS), and the dilation of CCA CB is the most common site of atherosclerotic plaque formation [1,22].…”

“…In head and neck surgery, CCA and its bifurcation level are important landmarks, defining the plane of the dissection during radical neck surgery [1]. Differential diagnosis requires the awareness of possible changed topography of the structures like carotid sinus (CS), and the dilation of CCA CB is the most common site of atherosclerotic plaque formation [1,22]. Determining the CB level accurately with non-invasive techniques is still an important goal, and external anatomical landmarks can be clinically useful for predicting the localisation of it.…”

Localization of the Carotid Bifurcation According to Hyoid Bone and Mandibular Angle

“…Occasionally, CB is situated at the level of midpoint of larynx, or at the level of inferior border of cricoid cartilage. Some authors reported that CCA run in the neck without giving off its terminal branches, or its terminal branches directly originated from aortic arch (Boyd;Anangwe et al, 2008).…”