An aortic punch for creating an aortotomy in a wall of a luminal structure. The aortic punch includes a housing having distal and proximal ends, first and second plungers, a first return spring and a cutting assembly. The first plunger is movable relative to the housing to expose a barb from the distal end of the housing for piercing and catching the wall of the luminal structure. The first return spring biases the barb proximally toward the distal end of the housing such that the barb pulls the wall of the luminal structure into contact with the cutting assembly. The present disclosure also relates to a method of forming an aortotomy in a luminal structure.