Anatomy & distribution of coronary arteries in pig in comparison with man.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The suitability of pig as an animal model for research in coronary artery disease is well established. As coronary arteries (CAs) of the pig are reportedly closely resemble those of man. We investigated the CAs of the pig (Sus scrofa) and study differences between the two, if any. METHODS: The origin and pattern of the coronary arteries were studied in the hearts of 30 fully grown pigs obtained from a slaughter house in Chandigarh (India). The openings of the CAs were identified at the commencement of the ascending aorta. The arteries were washed with acetone by introducing appropriate sized cannulae in their ostia. A 20 per cent solution of cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), a plastic material, dissolved in acetone was injected in the CAs. The hearts were fixed in 10 per cent formalin solution for three to four days after which the CAs and their branches were dissected. RESULTS: Both coronary arteries arose from the aortic sinuses below the supravalvular ridge in all the cases. Sinuatrial nodal artery (SAN) arose from the RCA in 70 per cent and from the circumflex artery (CX) in 30 per cent of instances. There was RCA dominance in all hearts of the pig. The atrioventricular nodal artery (AVN) and the posterior interventricular artery (PIV) were branches of RCA. The coronary arterial circulation in the pig was found to be similar to that in human. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: By and large the coronary arterial pattern of the pig was similar in that of the humans. We can conclude that the heart of a pig can be used for experiments but differences have to be kept in mind.

Bacteriology of acute appendicitis with special reference to anaerobes.

Bacterial flora of 105 patients of acute appendicitis of which 101 showed acute inflammation and 4 a normal appendix, was studied. A total of 121 anaerobes and 149 aerobes were isolated with an average of 1.15 anaerobes and 1.41 aerobes per specimen. Mixed flora was found in 100 (95.2%) specimens. Bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia coli were the most predominant anaerobes and aerobes respectively and their combination was most frequently seen. There were no significant differences in the rate of isolation of B. fragilis between the perforated/non perforated and inflamed/normal appendices. Hundred percent anaerobes were sensitive to clindamycin and 93.38% to metronidazole.