“A Cadaveric Study of Coronary Predominance in Eastern India”

Abstract

Ischaemic heart disease is one of the modernday pandemics. Human hearts with left coronary predominance are more prone for developing such ischaemic coronary events compared to hearts with right coronary predominance whereas hearts with balanced coronary circulation appear to be protected against ischaemic heart disease. In the current study, 60 human adult formalin preserved cadaveric hearts of either sex were dissected to look for the origin of posterior interventricular artery. It was observed that in 42 cases (70%) the posterior interventricular artery was a branch from right coronary artery (right coronary predominance). The posterior interventricular artery was found to arise from left coronary artery (left coronary predominance) in 6 cases (10%). In 12 cases (20%) the posterior interventricular artery was noted to be originating from both right as well as left coronary artery (balanced coronary circulation). The findings of the current study will be of particular interest to cardiologists performing coronary angiography, an essential prerequisite in managing coronary artery disease. Cardiothoracic-vascular surgeons will also find the information useful besides anatomists and forensic pathologists.