Heart Surgery and the Meaning of Life. An aortic aneurysm is a life-threatening medical condition of the aorta. The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body and connects directly to the heart. When the aortic aneurysm reaches a certain size, it can burst or rupture suddenly. When this medical emergency occurs, the person's life is in danger. The only treatment is emergency heart surgery. This collection is dedicated to all the heroic individuals who have experienced an aortic aneurysm and battled against the odds to beat this life-threatening disease.