Reimplantation of Thymus at the First Superior Cavo-Pulmonary Anastomosis and Its Outcome

During bidirectional cavo-pulmonary anastomosis (bidirectional Glenn; BDG), the thymic tissue is often excised to facilitate the exposure of the superior vena cava and its junction with the innominate vein. Subsequently, it is discarded. Since the last two decades, the lead author (ST) has pursued anchoring the excised thymus in its position by suturing it to the opposite unexcised thymic lobe. At the time of completion Fontan, the authors found the excised thymic tissue to be living on electron microscopy. In this report, the authors describe one such patient. The advantages of this approach have been discussed here. The techniques of performing the BDG and the Fontan are not discussed.