The author presents a historical review of the development of surgical and endovascular techniques in the treatment of aneurysms of the abdominal aorta. He describes the decisive cornerstones of treatment of the disease such as the first resection of an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta implemented by Dubost in Paris in 1951, the development of artificial vascular prostheses (vinyon D, dacron etc) and the detection of endovascular techniques by Volodos in Kiev (1986) and Parodi in Buenos Aires in 1990. The author discusses also contemporary pitfalls of endovascular treatment and reflects on indication criteria of the „open“ and endovascular technique.

        Key words: treatment of AAA - history - perspectives