Variations in Branching Pattern of Segmental Bronchi in Lungs Using Conventional Dissection Method

Abstract

The anatomical knowledge of tracheobronchial tree and its variations will be useful in case of many interventional treatments. Hence we undertook the present study to document the variation in branching pattern of segmental bronchi and its clinical implication. Materials and Methods:The Study was done on 30 right & 30 left formalin fixed adult lungs obtained from the cadavers in the Department of Anatomy, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore. The lung was dissected along the primary bronchi to expose the branching pattern, till the segmental bronchi. Ramification of bronchial tree was observed and photographed.Results: Regular pattern of B1 to B10 was found to be more on right side (76.6%), Absence of B7 was also more on right side. The pattern B7, B8+9+10(6.6%), was seen only on right side, whereas the patterns, B1+B2,B3, B7+8,B9+10, B7,B8,B9+10 and B7+8, B9,B10 was seen only in the left lungs. Two left lungs exhibited an accessory bronchus after lingual division and three left lungs had three bronchi in lingual division. Conclusions:The knowledge of anatomical variability of branching pattern will be useful for interventional radiologist, which would help to diagnose or predict many adverse outcomes of chest diseases at earlier stage and surgeons for planning segmental resections or pulmonary lobectomy.