Small abdominal aortic aneurysm growth rates increased with size, indicating safe ultrasound surveillance intervals of 60, 17, 11, and 5 months for sizes <3.5, 3.5-3.9, 4.0-4.4, and 4.5-4.9 cm.
Observational (n=252)
What are the appropriate ultrasound screening intervals for small abdominal aortic aneurysms based on their growth rate?
The growth rate of small AAAs increases with baseline size, suggesting that surveillance intervals can be tailored from 5 years for AAAs <3.5 cm to shorter intervals for larger aneurysms.
The management of small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is by ultrasound surveillance. The study aimed to calculate their growth rate, identify risk factors and determine appropriate screening intervals. The local screening programme and hospital records were used to identify patients with a small ( 5.0 cm, respectively. It also steadily increased for ln measurements from 0.022 (or 2.2%/year) to 0.078 or (7.8%/year). The minimum time (months) to reach 5.5 cm was 61, 17, 11 and 5 for AAA < 3.5 cm, 3.5-3.9 cm, 4.0-4.4 cm and 4.5-4.9 cm, respectively. Based on ln measurements, the times were similar at 60, 17, 10 and 4 months. In conclusion, the rate of growth increased steadily with AAA size. An aneurysm < 3.5 cm does not require a repeat scan for 5 years, while those measuring 3.5-3.9 cm and 4.0-4.4 cm require a repeat scan after 17 and 11 months.
Badger et al. (Tue,) conducted a observational in Small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) (n=252). Ultrasound surveillance was evaluated on Rate of growth and minimum time to grow to 5.5 cm. Small abdominal aortic aneurysm growth rates increased with size, indicating safe ultrasound surveillance intervals of 60, 17, 11, and 5 months for sizes <3.5, 3.5-3.9, 4.0-4.4, and 4.5-4.9 cm.