OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of open and endovascular repair for abdominal aortic aneurysm. METHODS: From January 2002 to July 2007, clinical data of 223 patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm undergoing open (141 patients) or endovascular repair (82 patients) were retrospectively reviewed. The intra- and post-operative complications, mortality, complications, survival, life quality, and cost during follow-up were analyzed. RESULTS: Operative time in endovascular group was significantly shorter than open repair group. Blood loss and transfusion in endovascular group were significantly less than open repair group (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference of intra- and post-operation complications (P > 0.05). Six-month total SF-36 scores were significantly higher in open repair group compared with endovascular group. There was no significant difference of survival rate at 2 years (P > 0.05), but endovascular group had fewer complications (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular repair is mini-invasive, but has more complications of long-term follow-up. The life quality in open repair group is better than endovascular group, and a prospective random trial is required.