An aneurysm is a weak, bulging area that can develop on the wall of a blood vessel particularly in the aorta, the large artery that carries blood from the heart for delivery to the rest of the body.
Once an aneurysm has been identified, surgery may be performed to avoid the danger of the aneurysm bursting.
Aortic aneurysm surgery involves either:

• Open chest surgery in which the part of the aorta with the aneurysm is removed and replaced with an artificial graft or
• Insertion of a stent graft (an artificial tube) at the site of the aneurysm so that blood can flow through the tube and bypass the aneurysm. This is a less invasive procedure and involves small cuts or incisions in the upper thigh.