ANATOMICAL STUDY OF CORONARY ARTERIES AND ITS BRACHING PATTERN IN COSTAL ANDHRA PRADESH POPULATION

Aim: The aim of this anatomical study of coronary arteries and its branching pattern in costal andhra pradesh population is to assess risk factors for occurrence of CADs. Methods: Conventional Dissection method. Results: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of death and disability in developed countries, and incidence of CAD is increasing annually in the underdeveloped world. Today, percutaneous coronary intervention plays a major role both in diagnosis and treatment of CAD. This present study was done to assess the normal patterns of coronary arteries with reference to its origin, branching pattern, caliber, predominance, variations and anomalies. 100 adult male and female cadaveric and fresh hearts preserved with 10% formalin were obtained from the Department of Anatomy & Department of forensic, Rangaraya Medical College, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. The origins, various branching patterns and diameter of right and left coronary arteries were observed. Both RCA & LCA was originating from the anterior aortic sinus in 100% and LCA from left posterior aortic sinus in 100. In the present study, termination of RCA occurs between acute margin and crux of heart in 8% of specimens, at PIVA posterior Interventricular artery or crux of heart in 12% of specimens, in between crux and obtuse margin of the heart in 76% of specimens, at the obtuse margin of the heart in 4% of specimens. The main trunk of LCA divides into two branches (bifurcation) in 76% of specimens, into three branches (trifurcation) in 20% of specimens, into four branches (quadrifurcation) in 2% of specimen, into five (pentafurcation) branches in 2% of specimen. The minimum diameter of RCA was 2.5 mm. The maximum diameter ofRCAwas 3.9mm. The minimum diameter of LCA was 2.6 mm the maximum LCA diameter was 6.2 mm. In 100 specimens the posterior interventricular artery arose from the right coronary artery indicating right dominance in 90 specimens and in 10 specimens from the left circumflex coronary artery indicating left dominance. Right dominance was present in 90%, left dominance in 10% and co-dominance was nil. Variations in branching pattern of coronary arteries as reported in present study necessitate its importance for proper diagnosis and management of coronary artery disease. Conclusion: Arterial pattern and its variations are important to prevent false interpretation of the arterial angiograms in management of coronary artery diseases.