1 | INTRODUCTION
Pulmonary veins (PVs) are blood vessels which distribute oxygenated
blood from lungs to the left atrium (LA) of the heart. Blood inflow to
the LA is generally described as a system of four PVs, arranged in
pairs, each located on the right and left side of the LA. The four most
commonly occurring vessels are left superior pulmonary vein (LSPV), left
inferior pulmonary vein (LIPV), right superior pulmonary vein (RSPV) and
right inferior pulmonary vein (RIPV) (classical type). However, a
substantial number of variations in quantity, arrangement and
morphometric dimensions of the PVs can be observed. Atrial fibrillation
(AF) is the most common arrhythmia, and its incidence increases
significantly with patients’ age . Both PVs and the LA play a
significant role in the pathogenesis of AF. Myocardial sleeves of the
distal PVs form simple extensions of the left atrial myocardium over the
outer surface of PVs and they are the major source of ectopic beats . A
detailed anatomical knowledge about PVs can be useful while preforming
catheter ablation in the treatment of AF, may result in higher
effectiveness of surgical therapies and can aid radiological examination
of the pulmonary and heart area . Therefore, the aim of this study was
to establish the most accurate and up-to-date anatomical knowledge of
PVs ostia variations, diameters and ostial area.