VARIOUS PATTERNS OF PULMONARY VEINS OPENING IN THE LEFT ATRIUM OF HEART: A CLINICAL INSIGHT

Pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood from lungs to the left atrium of heart. The four pulmonary veins open into the superior posterolateral surfaces of the left atrium, two on each side. This typical arrangement is present in 20?60% of the population. The present study was conducted on thirty hearts taken from embalmed male cadavers which were kept for dissection purpose in Government Medical College Jammu. 11(36.66%) hearts showed variations in the pattern of pulmonary veins opening into left atrium out of total hearts studied. The variations in both right and left pulmonary veins were observed in ten hearts (33.33%). Variatons in right pulmonary vein were seen in 10(33.33%) whereas left sided pulmonary veins it was in 11(36.6%) hearts. Variations in the pulmonary veins can be explained on the embryological basis, as these veins develop as a common outgrowth from dorsal atrial wall. As the atria grows, these pulmonary veins get incorporated into the wall of atrium. Thus four separate openings are seen; two on each side of left atrium. Thoracic surgeons should be aware of these variations and meticulous intraoperative confirmation of pulmonary vein anatomy is required while using endoscopic devices.