Resection of an aneurysm of the distal ascending aorta was performed under hypothermic circulatory arrest and retrograde cerebral perfusion though a right anterior thoracotomy. Seven years before, the patient had undergone orthotopic cardiac transplantation and had required pectoral muscle plasty to heal an infectious mediastinitis. This new approach avoided a potentially hazardous sternotomy and allowed successful resection of the aneurysm and reconstruction of a thrombosed innominate vein.