Impact of Thymectomy on Immunity in Infants After Cardiac Surgery

Heart surgery in infants typically involves complete removal of the thymus gland to improve access to the heart. However, the thymus plays a key role in developing the immune system in early childhood, especially in the production and maturation of T lymphocytes, which help the body defend itself against infections. The THYMIC study tests the hypothesis that partial removal of the thymus (partial thymectomy) during heart surgery may better preserve the child's immune function compared to total removal (complete thymectomy). The goal is to determine whether this conservative surgical approach could reduce the risk of immune system impairment and infections in the months following surgery. This is a prospective, interventional, single-center study conducted at CHU de Nantes, involving 3 groups of infants: * One group undergoing heart surgery with complete thymectomy; * One group undergoing heart surgery with partial thymectomy; * One control group undergoing heart or non-heart surgery without thymus removal. All infants enrolled will have two blood tests: one taken during their surgery and one taken one year later. These blood tests will quantify immune cells (T, B, NK cells), levels of antibodies, and vaccine responses. Parents will also be asked to fill out a questionnaire to record any infections their child experiences during the year after surgery. By comparing the immune responses and infection rates among the groups, the researchers hope to better understand the long…

This description comes directly from the study's public registry record.

Alexis Chenouard, PH  ·  02 44 76 82 21  ·  alexis.chenouard@chu-nantes.fr

Evelyne Gauvard  ·  Evelyne.GAUVARD@chu-nantes.fr

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