Open surgery repair of a thoracic aortic aneurysm

(A) An aneurysm in the ascending thoracic aorta.

(B) This type of aneurysm is repaired with open surgery. To do this, the doctor cuts open your chest to get to your heart. Then, they replace the bulging part of the aorta with a tube called a "graft." The graft is sewn into place. Blood can flow normally through it.