Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening Abdominal aortic aneurysm or abdominal aortic aneurysm examination is an examination procedure that aims to examine abnormal dilation of the aorta. Examination is recommended early on when an abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs, because if it is delayed, the size of the aorta can widen and rupture.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an abnormally widening of the aorta in the abdomen. The aorta is the main artery that exits the heart, to supply blood throughout the body.
The exact cause of abdominal aortic aneurysm is not known, but several factors are thought to cause this condition. These include smoking, high blood pressure (hypertension), trauma due to accidents, hereditary diseases, and infection and thickening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). This disease can be treated by a vascular surgeon.
Indications for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Examination
Symptoms of an abdominal aortic aneurysm can be difficult to pinpoint. If any, the initial symptoms shown are not so pronounced. The symptoms of AAA are characterized by sharp pain around the abdomen, back pain, and twitching around the belly button.
Doctors will recommend an abdominal aortic aneurysm examination in patients who are at risk for this condition. The main risk for AAA is men over 65 years of age and smoking. In addition, this examination is also recommended for individuals aged 60 years or older with a family history of suffering from AAA.
The patient may have had an AAA examination with a negative result. However, it does not rule out the possibility of re-examination of these patients.
Men are more at risk of suffering from AAA than women. However, the risk of rupture (rupture) aorta is more common in female patients.
Benefits of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Examination
Abdominal aortic aneurysm can be dangerous if not treated immediately. As many as 80 percent of AAA patients lose their lives due to delay in getting treatment.
This is where the importance of examining abdominal aortic aneurysms. By detecting AAA early, efforts can be made to prevent the dilated aorta from rupturing. Ultrasound examination of abdominal aortic aneurysms (USG) is a painless, fast, and reliable procedure. Some doctors even say early AAA screening can reduce the risk of death by half.
Before Examination of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
There is no special preparation for the examination of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Because you will undergo an examination using an abdominal ultrasound method, the preparation is no different from an abdominal ultrasound.
Your doctor will recommend emptying your stomach or fasting for 8-12 hours before the procedure. Food and drink consumed can become feces and urine, which makes the ultrasound image less clear.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Examination Procedure
Please note, examination of abdominal aortic aneurysm can be done through a number of diagnostic methods.
- Ultrasound (USG). This is the most common diagnostic method for AAA. Ultrasound is considered safe, has an accuracy rate of up to 98 percent, and does not require surgery/incision (non-invasive).
- X-ray's photo. X-rays will show a picture of calcium deposits around the abdomen due to the formation of aneurysm walls. The weakness of this method of examination is that it cannot tell the size or extent of the aneurysm.
- CT scan. A CT scan is done by previously injecting a special dye into the blood vessels. This diagnostic method is believed to have a high degree of accuracy in determining the size or extent of spread of an aortic aneurysm. CT scan is also quite useful to determine the location of the aneurysm.
- aortogram, namely examination with X-rays combined with injection of a special dye into the blood vessels.
- MRI.Performed on patients who have allergies to special dyes used in CT scans and aortograms, or in patients who have kidney disease.
Before carrying out a supporting examination, the doctor will start with a physical examination, especially the abdominal area.
Ultrasound on abdominal aortic aneurysm lasts quite a short time, about 10-15 minutes. The doctor will ask the patient to lie comfortably in bed before examining the patient's abdomen. During the examination, the doctor will press the patient's abdomen with a tool transducer Ultrasound that has been smeared with clear gel. The ultrasound screen will display pictures showing the condition of the patient's aorta.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Examination Results
There are 4 categories of results screening AAA that concludes the size of the aortic diameter, namely:
- Normal- The average aortic diameter is less than 3 cm. These results indicate that there is no AAA.
- Small - a test result showing an aortic diameter of 3 cm-4.4 cm, indicates the presence of AAA. Patients will be advised to have their condition checked by a doctor at least once a year.
- Currently - The aortic diameter is 4.5 cm-5.4 cm.
- Big - aortic diameter of 5.5 cm or more, indicates that the AAA is at risk of rupture.
For the category of normal to moderate aorta does not require special treatment. Doctors only give suggestions to prevent the condition of the aorta from getting bigger by:
- Healthy diet.
- Exercise regularly.
- Quit smoking.
- Control blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
If the results of the examination show that the size of the aorta is in the large category, the doctor will recommend surgery. Surgery is performed to repair damaged aortic tissue. The method of surgery will be adjusted to the patient's medical condition and the category of aneurysm obtained from the results of the examination.
There are two surgical methods used, namely open surgery and endovascular surgery.
- Open operation. For AAA conditions that are very large or have just broken. This operation is performed by making a number of incisions in the lining of the abdomen, and requires a long recovery time.
- Endovascular surgery. There are fewer incisions required in this operation than in open surgery. Thin, soft, and long plastic hose (stent graft) will be used to strengthen the aortic walls that are already weak.
Complications of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Examination
Examination of abdominal aortic aneurysms, especially by using ultrasound, is considered safe and rarely causes complications. Only in some cases, the gel used during the examination, can cause a local allergic reaction on the skin.
Similar to a CT scan, when performed according to its benefits, it rarely causes complications. However, the use of contrast on a CT scan has the risk of causing allergic reactions in some people, and is at risk of causing kidney failure, especially in people who have previously experienced impaired kidney function.
