Background: Several surgical techniques such as the Ross operation or total correction of tetralogy of Fallot require incisions of the upper ventricular septum. Very few reports on the anatomy of the septal arteries of the pathologic heart can be found in the literature. To get a more precise knowledge of the large septal arteries in pathologic hearts, we have compared the anatomy of normal hearts with that of hearts with aortic valve disease and of tetralogy of Fallot.
Methods: Twenty-six normal heart specimens (group A), 11 with aortic valve disease (group B), and 4 with tetralogy of Fallot (group C) were dissected.
Results: In groups B and C a single large septal artery was always found. The large septal artery had the orientation previously described for normal hearts. Still, its course in the lower border of the anterior extension of the septomarginal trabecula was deeper. The anterior extension of the septomarginal trabecula was 4 +/- 3 mm deep in group A, 6 +/- 2 mm in group B, and 3 mm in group C. The interventricular septum was much thicker in groups B and C than in group A.
Conclusions: The position of the large septal artery can be predicted from coronary angiography and from the morphology of the anterior extension of the septomarginal trabecula. Knowledge of its position can improve the safety of operations performed on the outflow of the interventricular septum.