‘United We Stand”: A Rare Case of Non-Incorporation of the Common Pulmonary Vein into Left Atrium

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: Anatomic variations of left atrium that are commonly observed and reported are the occurrence of a common Right or Left pulmonary venous ostia though a solitary ostium for a common pulmonary vein on the left atrial wall in an adult cadaveric heart has hardly been reported before. Method: A heart with a single ostium for PV was observed in the specimen collection of the gross anatomy lab. The organ was studied for identifying all external and internal features. Results: A very rare case of a Solitary Pulmonary ostium on the posterior aspect of Left Atrium in an otherwise normal heart was observed. Conclusion:This abnormal situation occurs when the solitary pulmonary vein which develops from an out-pouching of the primitive atrial chamber develops and its primary divisions fail to get incorporated into the left atrial wall as expected during development. Variant pulmonary veins have been reported as ectopic trigger spots for atrial fibrillation. This knowledge would benefit the radiologists and cardiovascular surgeons in this regard.