Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening

AAAThe AAA (abdominal aortic aneurysm) screening looks for “ballooning” of the wall of the abdominal aorta. AAA’s are most often caused by plaque buildup or atherosclerosis. This causes the lining in the wall of the blood vessel to become weakened and expand. When an abdominal aneurysm reaches approximately 5cm. In diameter, it is at a higher risk for rupture. Once an aneurysm has reached this size, physicians will often consider surgery. One aspect that makes AAA’s so deadly is the fact that many go undetected until it’s too late. In the event of a rupture, the mortality (death) rate is 80-90 percent.

AAA screening is a non-invasive and painless procedure. A small amount of gel is applied to the abdomen and an ultrasound transducer (similar to a microphone) is placed on the abdomen. The transducer is moved to various locations on the abdomen and 2D images of the aorta and iliac arteries are acquired.