Aorta surgery. Surgeon using rib spreaders to open a patient's chest during heart surgery. This surgery is being carried out to replace an aorta (the

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Aorta surgery. Surgeon using rib spreaders to open a patient's chest during heart surgery. This surgery is being carried out to replace an aorta (the body's main artery) that has become dilated due to a bicuspid aortic heart valve (BAV). A BAV is a congenital defect of the aortic valve where it has two cusps (sealing flaps) rather than the usual three. This can reduce the strength of the descending aorta, leading to an increased risk of dilation or aneurysm.

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Photo credit: © DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
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