During a thirteen years period 29 patients 80 years of age and older, underwent surgical procedure for abdominal aortic aneurysm. There were 9 elective aortic reconstructions and 20 ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) repairs. Perioperative mortality after elective AAA resection was 33% vs 50% after ruptured AAA (a postoperative period of 30 days was considered). Comparison of survival following aortic reconstruction in 14 patients with survival of general population matched for age, sex and race, is not significant.