Study of the left coronary artery in Sudanese population using conventional angiography

Background: Variation in coronary arteries can lead to coronary artery disease and serious complications during surgical procedures. This study identified the normal anatomy and common pattern of variation of the left coronary artery and its common branches regarding the origin, course, and termination.Methodology: This was a retrospective study conducted during the period from January 2022 to October 2022, with 100 Sudanese patients who underwent conventional coronary angiography at Ahmed Gasim cardiac center and data collected from patients' reports then analyzed with IBM SPSS statistical analysis program version 29.Results: The findings of this study showed that: 100% of the left coronary artery originates from the left coronary sinus; 98% of left coronary arteries bifurcating into left anterior descending and left circumflex branch and 2% of arteries bifurcated into the left anterior descending, left circumflex and ramus intermedius branches. Furthermore, there was variation in the branches of the left anteriordescending artery which divided into two diagonal branches in 46% of samples. In 55% of samples, the left circumflex artery gives rise to one obtuse marginal branch, and two branches in 39%. In 21% of samples, the left anterior descending artery is the most occluded artery. The numbers of diagonal and obtuse marginal branches arising from the left circumflex artery amongst Sudanese patients showed considerable variations. The ramus intermedius was the most common anatomical variation of the left coronary artery.Conclusion: Knowledge of the anatomical variations of the coronary arteries has great importance to prevent the complications and facilitate a safe way for surgical intervention in Sudanese patients.