What Is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening?

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening is a test for detecting a bulge, or aneurysm, in the aorta, the body’s largest and longest artery, running from your heart to your abdomen (the belly). A ballooning blood vessel is at risk of rupturing, resulting in a serious, possibly life-threatening, medical emergency. Aneurysms typically develop over time, often without early signs or symptoms. An AAA screening can reveal the presence of an aneurysm in the abdomen, enabling you and your physician to take appropriate action, whether through continued monitoring or corrective surgery.

Medical researchers have identified the groups most at risk for developing AAA. If you fall into one of these categories, consider contacting your Baptist Health medical provider to schedule an appointment or to set up a screening.

Why Is Screening Important?

An AAA screening is important because it is a painless and relatively simple means of detecting a potentially dangerous medical condition. If undetected, a ruptured aortic aneurysm can lead to:

• Pain in the abdomen, lower back, and/or groin
• Lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, and/or blacking out
• Blood loss from internal bleeding
• Death

Anyone with reason to believe that he or she is suffering from a ruptured aortic aneurysm should seek care immediately at the nearest emergency medical facility.

Who Should Get Screened for AAA?

Persons who meet any of the criteria below should consider an AAA screening:

• Men, age 65 years or older, with a history of tobacco use (defined as smoking a hundred or more cigarettes lifetime).
• Men, age 65 years or older, with a first-generation relative with AAA (meaning a parent, brother, sister, or child). This is regardless of whether the individual has a history of tobacco use.
• Men, age 65 years or older, with multiple other factors indicative of AAA, such as high blood pressure or coronary artery disease. This too is independent of whether the individual has a history of tobacco use.
• Women, age 65 years or older, with a history of tobacco use or a first-generation relative with AAA.

Women who have never used tobacco and who don’t have a family history of AAA are generally not viewed as candidates for a screening.

How Is an AAA Screening Performed?

Most AAA screenings are conducted by means of an abdominal ultrasound. Ultrasounds are a non-invasive imaging technology that uses sound waves to create pictures of the organs and other structures inside your body. Your physician can use these pictures to determine the location and dimensions of any possible bulges in your aorta.

An ultrasound procedure is generally quick and simple, completed in 15 minutes or fewer:

• On the day of your appointment, you will lie down on an exam table and open your shirt.
• The ultrasound technician will apply a conductive gel to your abdomen that facilitates the penetration of sound waves.
• He or she will conduct the exam by moving a transducer, a small, handheld device, back and forth over your abdomen.
• When scanning is complete, the technician will wipe away the conductive gel and you’ll be free to go home.

AAA screenings are occasionally conducted with other imaging technologies, such as CT scans or MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging scans).

Considerations Before AAA Screening

In considering whether to pursue an AAA screening, evaluate your risk factors. If one or more risk factors apply, you have an increased possibility of developing an abdominal aortic aneurysm. This would make a screening a relatively easy way of avoiding a potentially life-threatening medical condition.

How Successful Are Screenings in Detecting AAA?

Abdominal ultrasounds have proven effective in detecting the presence of aortic aneurysms in the abdomen. They’re also useful for estimating the size and dimensions of an aneurysm, which are critical factors in determining an appropriate medical response:

• The risk of rupture for persons with a small aneurysm, between 3.0 and 4.9 centimeters in diameter (roughly 1 to 2 inches), is relatively low. In such cases, your physician will likely choose to monitor any changes in the aneurysm with regular screenings.
• The risk of rupture for persons with a large aneurysm, five-plus centimeters in diameter (more than two inches), is much higher and calls for a timely response. The most common treatment is surgery, either minimally invasive endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) or open surgery. Both have been shown effective in correcting abdominal aneurysms, though EVAR carries with it less risk and produces faster recovery times.
• Your physician may also choose surgery for an aneurysm exhibiting rapid growth (one centimeter or more in diameter in a single year), even if its dimensions fall short of the five-centimeter threshold.

A one-time-only AAA screening is adequate for most persons returning negative results, absent changes in condition or the appearance of symptoms.

Learn More About AAA Screenings at Baptist Health

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a potentially serious medical threat that can be detected with a screening. If you’re interested in being evaluated for your level of risk, or want to schedule a screening appointment, contact your Baptist Health provider or fill out this online form today.