[Cardiopulmonary bypass for lung cancer surgery]

Most of the patients with locally advanced lung cancer were considered to be inoperable because of latent distant metastases. However, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), echography and radioisotope scanning (RI) have brought great advance of diagnosis for distant metastases of lung cancer. We have applied cardiopulmonary bypass to the seven patients with locally advanced lung cancer invading the bifurcation of pulmonary artery. Operative procedures became safe but survival is not satisfactory.