An Alternative Technique for Cannulation of the Left Superior Caval Vein by Dislocating the Heart Into the Right Thoracic Cavity

Abstract

We describe a technique of direct cannulation of the left superior vena cava in patients undergoing intracardiac repair of tetralogy of Fallot and univentricular type of repairs. The technique consists of dislocation of the heart into the right pleural cavity, thus allowing easy performance of left superior vena cava cannulation and pulmonary arterioplasty.