Study of the Branching Pattern of the Left Coronary Artery in Cadaveric Hearts

Abstract

BACKGROUND- Coronary artery disease is one of the major causes of the death worldwide. The left coronary artery supplies major part of the left ventricle and as the diseases of the left coronary artery is more , in depth study of the course , branching pattern and variations of the left coronary artery is essential for medical and therapeutic interventions. -To study t AIM he branching pattern of the left coronary artery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study was conducted in 40 adult hearts specimens irrespective of sex , with no obvious pathology that were used during the routine academic dissection for M.B.B.S students in the Department of Anatomy ,JMCH and also from the autopsies done in the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology ,JMCH ,Assam. The hearts were preserved in 10% formalin and dissected in a convenient time later. After removal of the visceral pericardium and sub epicardial fats , coronary arteries were identied alongwith their branches and traced till their termination . The arteries were painted with red fabric colour to enhance the contrast. Photographs were taken and the relevant data were recorded and analyzed statistically. The origin of the left corona RESULTS: ry artery and its branching pattern was studied . In all the specimens the origin of left coronary artery was from left posterior aortic sinus. Out of 40 adult hearts bifurcation was found in 28 specimens (70%) and trifurcation in 12 specimens(30%). Knowledge of the variations of the branching pattern CONCLUSION: of the left coronary artery is useful for the cardiac surgeons for interpretation of arterial occlusions and for performing interventional life saving procedures