Is a bypass necessary for aorta surgery?

A bypass surgery is not always necessary for aorta surgery; however, it may be necessary if the aortic valve needs to be fully replaced or if the surgery deals with the blood vessels that connect to the brain or upper body, reports the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Most aortic surgeries take 3 to 6 hours to complete.

Aortic valve surgery is necessary whenever a person has problems with their aortic valves, including valves that do not shut all of the way or valves that do not open all of the way, writes the U.S. National Institutes of Health. A new valve is inserted into the body that is either mechanical or biological and will repair the problem with the valve.