Morphology of the Left Atrial Appendage in the Senegalese: About 36 Anatomic Parts

Abstract

Introduction: the left atrial appendage, a dormant embryonic vestige, would play a major role in cardiac hemodynamic changes, volume homeostasis and thrombi formation. It, therefore constitutes a therapeutic target. Its morphology is extremely variable. Objective: it consisted on determining the morphological variations of the left auricle as well as their interest in the prevention of thrombi in the Senegalese. Material and Method: This study was conducted by dissecting 36 fresh hearts from Senegalese anatomical subjects with a sampling of the left atrial appendage, including specimens with normal morphological appearance. Their morphology was studied using the fresh and frozen plaster molding method. The data obtained were analyzed statistically. Results: the average age of the subjects was 33 years, with a sex ratio of 1.06, the cauliflower shape was dominant with 57% of cases and the cactus shape (4%) was less frequent. The cauliflower shape presented a clear angulation compared to the others without statistically significant differences according to age. Conclusion: This work showed a great morphological variability of the left atrial appendage. It can provide an update on the specificity of Senegalese. Taking these variations into account is important in the safe management of hemodynamic conditions and the improvement of the management of recurrent strokes.