[Successful emergent replacement of ruptured aortic arch aneurysm in an inpatient waiting for surgery: report of a case].

A 71-year-old male was admitted to our hospital for examination of mediastinal abnormal shadow, which was diagnosed aortic arch aneurysm. Once he was discharged and stayed at home for 2 weeks, and then re-admitted for surgery. On the 3rd day of 2nd admission, he suddenly fainted away in the ward and was in shock by hemorrhagic cardiac tamponade. He was transferred to operation room within an hour from onset of rupture. Emergent aortic arch replacement was performed under circulatory arrest with deep hypothermia and retrograde cerebral perfusion. His postoperative course was uneventful without any neurological deficits. Prompt diagnosis and surgery may contribute to improvement of surgical result in patients with ruptured aortic arch aneurysms.