Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening

Your abdominal aortic aneurysm screening results

Your abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) scan will produce one of four possible results: a normal-sized aorta, a small aneurysm, a medium aneurysm, or a large aneurysm.

What happens next depends on the size of your abdominal aorta.

If your scan is normal

If the ultrasound scan shows your abdominal aorta is a normal size (less than 3cm in diameter) this means you don't have an AAA.

Should this happen, you won't be invited back for another scan as an AAA grows slowly, and the chances of you developing one after the age of 65 are very small.

If you're found to have a small or medium AAA

If the scan shows you have a small (3.0-4.4cm) or medium (4.5-5.4cm) aneurysm, you won't need any treatment at this stage.

You will be invited back for regular scans to check the size of the aneurysm, however, in case it gets bigger.

You'll be invited for a scan every year if you have a small aneurysm, and every three months if you have a medium aneurysm.

Because aneurysms grow so slowly, men with a small or medium aneurysm may never need treatment.

You'll also be given advice on how you can prevent the aneurysm from getting bigger, including:

stopping smoking
eating a balanced diet
ensuring you maintain a healthy weight
taking regular exercise
taking medication on the advice of your GPfor example, to reduce blood pressure

If you are found to have a large AAA

If the scan shows you have an AAA that is 5.5cm or larger, you will be referred to a vascular surgeon (a surgeon who specialises in diseases of the blood vessels), who may recommend an operation.

You should be seen by the surgeon within two weeks of your screening appointment.

The surgeon will discuss treatment options with you, taking into account your general health and fitness, as well as the size of your AAA.

There are two main options for surgery, which are:

open surgerywhere the surgeon cuts into your stomach (abdomen) to reach the abdominal aorta and replace the enlarged section with a synthetic tube called a graft
endovascular surgery a type of "keyhole" surgery where the surgeon makes small cuts in your groin and guides the graft through a leg artery up into the swollen section of aorta to reinforce the wall

If you're not fit or well enough to undergo surgery, or you don't want to have surgery, you will be offered lifestyle advice and possibly medication. This can help slow down the growth of an AAA and reduce the risk of a rupture.

Read detailed information about treating a large AAA, including the advantages and disadvantages of different types of surgery.

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 30 Nov 2016

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Introduction

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening is a way of detecting a dangerous swelling of the aorta. It involves an ultrasound scan and is offered to all men aged 65 and over. An AAA usually causes no symptoms, but if it bursts, its extremely dangerous and usually fatal. Around 8 out of 10 people with a ruptured AAA either die before they reach hospital or dont survive surgery.

Why have abdominal aortic aneurysm screening?

If you have an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) you wont usually know, you wont feel any pain or notice anything different, which is why screening is offered. The NHS AAA Screening Programme was introduced after research showed it could halve the number of deaths from burst aneurysms among men aged 65 and over. The risk of having an abdominal aortic aneurysm can also increase if: you smoke; you have high blood pressure; a brother, a sister or a parent has, or has had, an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

When abdominal aortic aneurysm screening is offered

The risk of dying from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is greatest in men aged over 65. This is why the NHS AAA Screening Programme offers screening to men aged 65 and over. Men are six times more likely to have an AAA than women, and the chance of having an aneurysm increases with age. Your risk of developing an AAA increases if you have a close family member brother, sister or parent who has an AAA or died from one.

What happens during screening?

The screening test for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a simple, pain-free ultrasound scan of the abdomen that usually takes about 10 minutes. The technician will put a clear gel on your stomach (abdomen) and then move a small Ultrasound scan over the skin. The ultrasound scan will display a picture of the abdominal aorta on a monitor, and the technician can then measure it's thickness.

Your abdominal aortic aneurysm screening results

Your abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) scan will produce one of four possible results: a normal-sized aorta, a small aneurysm, a medium aneurysm, or a large aneurysm. What happens next depends on the size of your abdominal aorta. You'll also be given advice on how you can prevent the aneurysm from getting bigger, including: stopping smoking, eating a balanced diet, etc. You should be seen by the surgeon within two weeks of your screening appointment. The surgeon will discuss treatment options with you, taking into account your general health and fitness, as well as the size of your AAA.

What are the most FAQs on abdominal aortic aneurysm screening

Frequently asked questions on abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening. Will I be offered abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening if I live outside England? What is the scientific evidence to support AAA screening? What happens if I am a man over 65 and haven't been screened for an AAA? What about women and men under 65? What are the implications for driving? What permission do I need to give to be screened? etc.

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