The prognostic meaning of the routine use of the methods of temporary clipping of the afferent vessel in patients with intracranial aneurysm (Grading 0-III) was the aim of the analysis in this study. In the period 1 January, 1991-31 December 1997, 304 patients underwent surgery for non-giant intracranial aneurysm and a follow-up angiography. 157 patients were operated by routinely using the temporary clipping of the afferent vessel, whereas in 147 patients the surgical procedure was performed by traditional methods. The statistical analysis showed a significant reduction (p < 0.001) in terms of risk of surgical complications in the patients who underwent surgery with the temporary clip method compared to those operated with the traditional method, with a relative risk of such complications about three times greater in the latter. The routine use of temporary clipping offers, therefore, the possibility of a significant improvement of the surgical results, not influenced by a further involvement for the structure, due to the short application time.