ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Access to the coronary venous system is required for the delivery of several cardiac therapies including cardiac resynchronization therapy, coronary sinus ablation, and coronary drug delivery. Therefore, characterization of the coronary venous anatomy will provide insights to gain improved access to these vessels and subsequently improved therapies. For example, cardiac resynchronization therapy has a 30% nonresponder rate, partially due to suboptimal lead placement within the coronary veins. OBJECTIVE: To understand the implications of coronary venous anatomy for the development of devices deployed within these vessels. METHODS: We cannulated the coronary sinus of 121 perfusion-fixed human hearts with a venogram balloon catheter and injected contrast into the venous system while obtaining computed tomographic images. For each major coronary vein, distance to the coronary sinus, branching angle, arc length, tortuosity, number of branches, and ostial diameter were assessed from the reconstructed anatomy. RESULTS: Twenty-nine percent (35/121) specimens did not have a venous branch overlying the inferolateral side of the heart large enough to fit a 5F pacing lead. No significant differences in anatomy were found between subgroups with varying cardiac medical histories. CONCLUSION: The anatomical approach employed in this study has allowed for the development of a unique database of human coronary venous anatomy that can be used for the optimization of design and delivery of cardiac devices.
