On the basis of cardio-vascular department of the Saint Petersburg Medical academy of postdiploma education the authors made an analysis of surgical treatment of 23 patients with small (45-55 mm) aneurysms of the ascending portion of the aorta. Mean age of the patients by the time of operation was 55 years (from 35 to 75 years). The causes of the disease were as follows: poststenotic dilatation of the aorta--in 15 patients, atherosclerosis--in 5 patients, degenerative media pathology--in 3 patients. Critical aortal stenosis was revealed in 15 patients, 12 of them had insufficiency of the aortal valve. All the patients were subjected to longitudinal plasty of the aneurysm and banding with a vascular prosthesis, under conditions of mild hypothermic chemical cardioplegia. Good results were followed up for 5-10 years.