Open abdominal surgery is the standard treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm. The procedure is done using general anesthesia and takes approximately 2-4 hours. An incision is made in the abdomen or in the side of the body to access the aorta at the point of the aneurysm. The affected section will be removed and a vascular graft will be used to connect the ends. The graft is made from synthetic material and used in place of the blood vessel. This graft is permanent and lasts a very long time.