A Retrospective Study Of The Variations In The Dimension And Prediction Of Aortic Arch In Some States In South South Nigeria Using Computed Tomography Scan.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
For decades, the arch of aorta has been an area of interest for many cardiothoracic surgeons, researchers in radiology and researchers in anatomical sciences. The increasing rate of pathologies and surgical complications involving the cardiovascular system has served to propel further research in developmental and adult anatomical features of the arch of aorta. The present study, set out to determine the anatomical variation in the dimension and prediction of aortic arch dimensions in some States in South-South Nigeria using computed tomography scan. Two hundred (200) retrospective tomographs from Computed tomography (CT) scans were used for data collection and the tomographs met all the inclusion criteria. 108 were males while 92 were females. With the use of DICOM software, images were reviewed accordingly and the branching patterns as well as positions were noted. The ages ranged from 26 to 72years, with a mean age of 51.21 years, SEM of 0.85 and SD of 12.02. From the 200 subjects, the aortic length of age group 25-34years for females was 37.43+0.62, while males 39.91+0.00 at P<0.05 and diameter is 28.00+0.24 and 30.12+0.00 for females and males respectively. At ages 35 — 44years there was also an overwhelming variation existing in both sexes with the aortic arch length, diameter and thoracic antero-posterior ~ diameter — measuring 36.45+0.47 and 45.46+0.63; 27.15+1.19 and 37.94+0.99; 255.94+10.66 and 297.63+6.83 for females and males respectively. Again, the aortic arch length for ages ranging from 45-54 years was 36.78+0.80 and 43.73+1.32 for females and males respectively. Arch diameter for females was 25.45+1.74 and for males was 34.00+1.99. Their diameter was significantly different with females having 253.94+9.04 and male with value of 313.15+7.65 at P<(0.05. Patients that fell
within the age range of 55-64 years had high variations noted in the dimensions of their aortic arch and the length, interestingly the highest number of males fall in this age group. Age >65 years shows significant difference between both sexes and females in this age group is the least having just six (6). From the study, it has been unearthed that the aortic arch dimension increases with increase in age and males have higher values than females. Also, the aortic arch diameter and length can be predicted from the observed values for both males and females.