Open AccessAnatomical branching patterns of the aortic arch in Ethiopia: An imaging-based study
Author(s) -
Haile Tesfamariam,
Peter Etim Ekanem,
Birhane Alem,
Anne Caroline Kendi Nyaga
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
the annals of african surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.114
H-Index - 4
eISSN - 2523-0816
pISSN - 1999-9674
DOI - 10.4314/aas.v18i4.9
Subject(s) - medicine , branching (polymer chemistry) , aortic arch , computed tomography , radiology , head and neck , aorta , cardiology , surgery , materials science , composite material
Background: The aortic arch (AA) is a key anatomical vascular structure through which blood is distributed to the body’s organs. Knowledge of its branching patterns is important for surgical procedures. This study aimed to describe anatomical variations in the branching patterns of human AAs in patients who underwent chest contrastenhanced computed tomography. Methods: A retrospective study involving 630 chest contrastenhanced computed tomography scans from July 2018 to July 2019 was carried out at Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia. These images were reviewed for AA branching patterns and classified accordingly. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: Of the 630 patients (364 males and 266 females), AA branching pattern variations were found in 35.2%: type II, 26%; type III, 6.5%; type V, 2.7%; the rest, 64.8%, had a normal (type I) AA branching pattern. The left vertebral artery and the aberrant right subclavian artery were also observed to originate directly from the AA. Conclusions: AA branching pattern variation types II, III, and V were found in our study. These findings could be vital during aortic instrumentation and surgical procedures of the head and neck in Ethiopia and globally.