Histological findings of the atrioventricular conductive system in street heroin addicts, victims of sudden unexpected death.

A study of the atrioventricular (AV) conducting tissue was considered necessary for the examination of probable histologic changes that could justify the arrhythmias observed in street-heroin addicts. Postmortem coronary angiography and microscopic examination were performed in 50 heroin addicts (group A) and in 50 nonaddicts (group B), all male 16-40 years old. In group A, fatty and/or fibrous tissue replaced the AV node in 50% of cases while in group B in 14%.

A secret pathway of the sinus node artery.

Anatomic and postmortem angiographic findings of a previously unreported case of common origin of the left circumflex (LCX) and the sinus node (SN) arteries, from the left main (LM) coronary artery were demonstrated. Knowledge of this anatomical variation, although it does not give rise to symptoms, is essential for anatomist and mainly for the interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons for their procedures.

Histological recognition and classification of the atrioventricular node artery variants: a new approach.

Background: There is a controversy in the literature concerning the origin, course, and distribution of the atrioventricular (AV) node artery.

Methods: Postmortem coronary angiography, dissection, and microscopic examination were performed in 100 human hearts specimens, providing anatomical, histological, and postmortem angiographic features of the AV node artery.

Results: Two anatomical types of AV node artery, depending on its length (long-short), were found.