Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: December | Volume: 7 | Issue: 12 | Pages: 488-495
Morphometric Assessment of the Length of the Pulmonary Trunk amongst Nigerians Using Ultrasound Technique
Erekosima, Boma Uriah1, Kiridi, Enefia Kelvin2, Gwunireama, Israel Ukie3, Oki, Blessed Oyinmiebi4
1Lecturer, Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty Of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
2Consultant Radiologist, Department of Radiology, Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
3Lecturer, Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty Of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health sciences, University Of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
4Senior Registrar, Cardiology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Corresponding Author: Erekosima, Boma Uriah
ABSTRACT
The pulmonary trunk which is also referred to as the main pulmonary artery is an arterial output originating from the right ventricle, carrying deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation. The aim of this study was to use echocardiogram to assess the length of the pulmonary trunk amongst Nigerian normotensive and hypertensive subjects, males and females ≥18years of age. Fifty seven (57) volunteers partook in this research (32 males, 56%; 25 females, 44%). Data were collected primarily and analysed using SPSS version 25.0. ANOVA, t-test and correlation were used to analyse the data, p<0.05 at 95% confidence interval. Results showed that males with systemic hypertension had a mean pulmonary length trunk of 5.11cm which is higher compared to male normotensives, overweight males also had a mean pulmonary trunk length of 5.19cm which is also greater compared to males with normal weight. There was no significant difference in length of pulmonary trunk in females with systemic hypertension compared with normotensive females. Also no significant difference was found with respect to BMI and length of pulmonary trunk amongst females. This research recommends that Physicians (Cardiologists) should carry out regular assessment on the length of the Pulmonary trunk of their patients especially males with systemic hypertension, also overweight males should have the length of their pulmonary trunk assessed. In conclusion, this study provided reference values for the length of the pulmonary trunk in normotensives and hypertensives in our population.
Keywords: Echocardiography, Length of pulmonary trunk, normotensive, hypertensive, BMI.
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