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Aortic Aneurysm Screening - Ultrasound
Abominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Service
Aortic Aneurysm- An aortic aneurysm is a weakened and bulging area in the aorta which is the major blood vessel that carries blood to the body directly from the heart. If this bulge subsequently ruptures it can be a life threatening condition. Most small and slow-growing aortic aneurysms don't rupture, but large, fast-growing aortic aneurysms may do so without any warning. Depending on the size and rate at which the aortic aneurysm is growing, treatment may vary from regular screening through to emergency surgery.
Symptoms- Aortic aneurysms often grow slowly and usually without symptoms, making them difficult to detect. Thankfully some aneurysms will never rupture and simply need to have regular screening.
As an aortic aneurysm grows, some people may notice:
-A pulsating feeling near the front abdominal wall
-Tenderness or pain in the abdomen or chest
-General unexplained back pain
Aneurysms can develop anywhere along the aorta, but most occur in the abdomen and are hence called abdominal aortic aneurysms. Aneurysms that occur in the part of the aorta that's higher up in your chest are called thoracic aortic aneurysms.
Who is at risk?
Anyone with the symptoms above should see a doctor urgently. In addition to this anyone over the age of 60yrs and who has risk factors for developing an aortic aneurysm should consider regular screening for the condition. If you have a family history of aortic aneurysm, your doctor may recommend regular ultrasound exams to screen for aortic aneurysm.
The principle risk factors include:
- Age. Abdominal aortic aneurysms occur in the 60+yrs population.
- High blood pressure. Increased blood pressure damages the blood vessels in the body, raising your chances of developing an aneurysm.
- Smokers. Those who have smoked at some stage during their life are at an increased risk. As with most diseases the duration and intensity of the smoking increases the risk.
- Family history. Those who have a family history of aortic aneurysm are at increased risk...
- Atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis, which is the build up of fatty substances (and plaques) on the lining of the blood vessels increases your risk of an aneurysm.
- Sex. Males are up to 10 times more likely to develop aortic aneurysms than females. Women are however still at risk...
- Ethnicity. Aneurysms occur more commonly in the Caucasian (white) population.
Diagnosis- If you suspect that you have an aneurysm there are numerous simple tests that can confirm a diagnosis. These tests include:
Abdominal ultrasound...During this painless exam, you will lie on your back on an examination table and a small amount of acoustic gel is applied to your abdomen. The doctor presses a small ultrasound probe against the skin on your abdomen in a similar manner to that of a baby scan which a pregnant mother would have. During this scan which will last just a few seconds the Doctor will measure the width of the aorta and ensure that there are no areas of concern. The doctor is a consultant radiologist who will have performed this and much more complex tests in the past.
For certain tests and conditions the Consultant may wish to advise a CT or MRI scan as well.
