What is thoracic aortic aneurysm repair?
Aortic aneurysm repair is surgery to fix a weak and bulging section of the aorta. The aorta is the large blood vessel (artery) that carries blood from the heart through the chest and belly to the rest of the body. An aortic aneurysm that is not repaired may burst (rupture). This can be life-threatening. Your doctor will use a man-made tube (called a graft) to replace the weak section of your aorta in your chest. The doctor will make a large cut (incision) in your chest. The incision may be made through the breastbone (sternum), or the incision may be in the side of your chest between your ribs. During the surgery, the doctor may connect you to a machine that does the jobs of your heart and lungs (heart-lung bypass machine). This machine will allow the doctor to stop your heartbeat while he or she works on your aorta. In some cases, the doctor can do surgery without using a heart-lung bypass machine. To do surgery this way, the doctor will put clamps on the aorta above and below the ane
