Anomalous phrenic nerve - A case report

In this paper we report a variation in the formation of phrenic nerve and mention its clinical implications. Phrenic nerve arises chiefly from the fourth cervical ventral ramus, but also the ventral rami of the third and fifth cervical spinal nerves contribute to its formation. A 60-year-old male cadaver presented bilateral variations in the origin of the phrenic nerve. Phrenic nerve was arising from supraclavicular nerve on both sides and receiving a communicating branch from the superior trunk of the brachial plexus. The same cadaver also presented an early division of the superior trunk of the brachial plexus. The clinical significance of such variations during regional anaesthesia is of considerable interest.