In 1991, the first aortic aneurysm repair using an aortic endograft was reported. With this technique, a fabric-covered metallic stent or "endograft" is inserted into an abdominal aortic aneurysm without making an incision on the abdomen. The endograft is placed within the abdominal aortic aneurysm by making an incision in the femoral artery at the level of the groin and passing the device into the aneurysm while watching its progress through the arterial system on an x-ray monitor. When the device is seated properly within the aortic aneurysm, the "endograft" is released from the introducer device and stays within the aneurysm to protect it from rupture.