An anatomical study of the patterns of the coronary arteries and sinus nodal artery in complete transposition.

The origin and course of the main coronary arteries and the sinus nodal artery are relevant to both intra-atrial and arterial relocation operations for complete transposition (the combination of concordant atrioventricular and discordant ventriculo-arterial connexions). The patterns of the main coronary arteries in 148 hearts with complete transposition have been documented together with the patterns of the sinus nodal artery in 105 of these. The terminology which has been used to describe these arteries has been explained. The findings illustrate the wide variation which exists in the origin and course of all these arteries in complete transposition and indicate areas where they are most at risk.