An elderly woman underwent an aortic valve replacement and 5 months later d
eveloped a pseudoaneurysm from the anterior aspect of the proximal ascendin
g aorta (AA). The pseudoaneurysm was approached through a redo-median stern
otomy, on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), mild hypothermia, and a beating hea
rt, with a temporary fingertip occlusion of its ostium, and repaired succes
sfully using mattress monofilament sutures enforced by pledgets. The standa
rd approach to such pseudoaneurysms is a CPB and hypothermic circulatory ar
rest (HCA) prior to mid-sternotomy, and replacement of the AA. But, when a
pseudoaneurysm arises from a narrow ostium on the anterior aspect of the AA
, as in this case, it can be sutured closed with pledgets under CPB with a
mild hypothermia and a beating heart.