Study of Anatomical Variations of Number of Pulmonary Veins and its Clinical Significance

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The pulmonary veins play an important rolein the pulmonary circulation by receiving oxygenated bloodfrom the Lungs and delivering it to the left atrium. Pulmonaryvein anatomy piqued curiosity of researchers off late afterthe discovery of its role in genesis of atrial arrhythmias andincreased incidence of pulmonary hypertension in COPD.The congenital variations in number of pulmonary veinsand their drainage patterns, encompass a wide spectrum ofanomalies and are not uncommon in general population. Theaim of the study was to observe the variations in the numberof pulmonary veins and pulmonary ostia.Material and Methods: The present study was done on 25formalin fixed hearts aged 18-70 years, obtained from thedepartment of anatomy, Sri Padmavathi Medical college forwomen, Tirupathi. These hearts were observed for the numberof pulmonary veins, their drainage into left atrium, variationsin pulmonary ostia on right and left sides and were comparedwith previous studies.Results: Out of the 25 specimens studied, 23 hearts (92%)had normal pattern of four pulmonary veins, two from eachlung extending to the left atrium and opening into it via twoseparate pulmonary ostia, on either side. In 2 (8%) out of 25specimens, variations in the number of pulmonary veins andthe pulmonary ostia were observed.Conclusion: The awareness of the variant anatomy ofpulmonary veins and their drainage is of paramountimportance to Radiologists, Electrophysiologist and Cardiothoracic surgeons while performing surgical procedures onHeart.