Morphometric study of the main bronchi and the intermediate bronchus in a colombian cadaveric sample

Abstract

Knowing morphometry in length, circumference and angulation of the main bronchi and the intermediate bronchus can be relevant data in radiological, surgical procedures and even in life-threatening events such as bronchoaspiration. Evidence is scarce about the morphometry of the main bronchi and the intermediate bronchus, that is why the present study aimed to describe the morphometry of the main bronchi and the intermediate bronchus in a Colombian cadaveric population sample. A descriptive study was carried out where 29 specimens were selected from Cali, Colombia; 11 corresponded to cadavers and 18 to organs isolated from the lower respiratory tract; cadavers with duly dissected structures were included and samples with anatomical structures that were absent or damaged, and that affected the performance of the measurements were excluded. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. The mean length of the right main bronchus was 1.69 cm 95% CI (1.51-1.87), the mean length of the intermediate bronchus was 2.89 cm 95% CI (2,66- 3,12), the mean length of the left main bronchus was 3.34 cm 95% CI (3-3.68); the interbronchial angle had an average of 80.17° 95% CI (72.87-87.48). The measurements of the right main bronchus agree with those reported in the literature, the opposite occurs with the left main bronchus; interbronchial angle measurement showed differences to that reported by the literature. This study shows that although there are international nomenclatures and consensus, these have not been implemented correctly by health professionals and the term intermediate bronchus is used in daily practice, it is therefore necessary that the Societies of Anatomy and Morphology again discuss their importance and recognition in the nomenclature.