Surgical repair involves removal of the diseased portion of the aorta. Clamps are placed above and below the aneurysm, which is then cut out and removed. A fabric tube, or graft, is sewn onto both cut ends to replace the diseased portion that is removed. The most common site for aortic aneurysm is in the abdomen involving the aorta below the renal arteries. A inverted Y shaped graft is sutured to the aorta after removing the diseased aorta. This is a major operation, needing stay in the ICU for 2-3 days and in the hospital for nearly one week or more. Patients generally take a month to resume their normal activities. Hence minimally invasive stent procedures have become popular.

But once the patient recovers from surgery there is no need for frequent screening and check ups as is the case with endovascular repair.