Aortic arch resection under temporary bypass grafting for advanced thymic cancer.

Extensive surgery for malignant disease requiring cardiopulmonary bypass may cause postoperative immunosuppression. We conducted resection of the aortic arch and total arch replacement under temporary bypass grafting in a patient with advanced thymic cancer invading the aortic arch. No major postoperative complications such as brain damage or paraplegia occurred. Temporary bypass grafting is thus applicable in extensive surgery for malignant disease invading the aortic arch.