Internal thoracic artery encircled by an unusual phrenic nerve loop

Fu-Chean Chen, Yung Yu Tsai, Hellen Jeng

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

We report an anatomic variation of the phrenic nerve. During a routine gross anatomical dissection course at our medical university, we found an unusual loop of the left phrenic nerve around the internal thoracic artery, about 1 cm from the take-off of the left subclavian artery. The phrenic nerve is close to the internal thoracic artery and is easily injured when dissecting the internal thoracic artery for coronary artery bypass conduit. Therefore, we suggest that the anatomic relationship of the phrenic nerve and internal thoracic artery is important in preventing incidental injury of the phrenic nerve.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1069-1070
Number of pages2
JournalJournal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume106
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2007

Keywords

  • Coronary artery bypass graft
  • Internal thoracic artery
  • Phrenic nerve

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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