Post mortem coronary arteriography in Nigerians: a radiological review

The findings in 147 unselected consecutive post mortem coronary arteriograms carried out at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, are analysed. The so-called third primary division of the left coronary artery was noted in 35% of cases which is much less than the 74% quoted for the South African Bantu. In atrial blood supply, there was a definite predominance of one coronary artery. The predominant artery to both atria originated in one-third of cases from the right coronary, in another third from the left coronary and in the remaining third from both coronary artery systems respectively. Only in eight instances was atherosclerotic disease noted and even then, this was of the mildest degree with only minimal and slight intimal irregularity. This further explains the known rarity of myocardial infarction as a cause of death in the Nigerian. The study forms a useful basis for the baseline anatomy of the coronary arteries in Nigerians as a prelude to in vivo studies in the cardiomyopathies.