Aorta surgery. Surgeon using a cautery knife to open a patient's chest during heart surgery. A cautery knife burns (cauterises) the skin and flesh to

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Aorta surgery. Surgeon using a cautery knife to open a patient's chest during heart surgery. A cautery knife burns (cauterises) the skin and flesh to prevent bleeding. 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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Size: 5147px × 3425px
Photo credit: © DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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