Journal of Medical Sciences and Health (Oct 2020)
Anatomic Study of Number of Pulmonary Veins Draining into the Left Atrium and Their Variations
Abstract
Introduction: Pulmonary veins originate from the alveolar capillary plexus and carry oxygenated blood to the left atrium. The fibrous pericardium is perforated by the pulmonary veins and they drain separately in the posterosuperior aspect of the left atrium as the right and left pulmonary veins. From the dorsal atrial wall, primordial vein arises as an outgrowth just to the left of the septum primum. The primordial pulmonary vein and its main branches are incorporated into the wall of the left atrium as the atrium expands and results in the formation of four pulmonary veins. The knowledge of the variations in the pulmonary veins is helpful for endoscopists and also for the surgeons operating for arrhythmias. The aim of the study was to assess the number of pulmonary veins opening into the left atrium and their variations. Materials and Methods:The present study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Apollo Medical College, Hyderabad. Study design: This study is an observational study; the study material comprised 30 embalmed cadaveric heart specimens of unknown sex. Old and damaged cadaveric heart specimens were excluded from the study. The number of pulmonary veins opening into the left atrium and their variations was observed. The percentage of variations on the right and left side was calculated. Results: In the present study, out of 30 heart specimens which were used for the study, four pulmonary veins draining into the left atrium were observed in 26 heart specimens which are a normal pattern. A variation in the number of pulmonary veins opening into the left atrium was observed in only four heart specimens which were of a different pattern. The variation in the number of pulmonary veins in all the four heart specimens was on the right side. Conclusion: Knowledge about the variations in number of pulmonary veins is helpful as pulmonary veins are an important source of ectopic atrial electrical activity and can be useful for cardiologists, radiologists, and cardiothoracic surgeons in radiofrequency ablation surgeries.
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