TY - JOUR
T1 - Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening during transthoracic echocardiography in an unselected population
AU - Bekkers, Sebastiaan C. A. M.
AU - Habets, Jos H. M.
AU - Cheriex, E. C.
AU - Palmans, Andrea
AU - Pinto, Yigal
AU - Hofstra, Leo
AU - Crijns, Harry J. G. M.
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the echocardiographic prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in an unselected group of patients referred for regular transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). METHODS: Prospectively, during a 3-month period, a limited ultrasound examination of the infrarenal aorta was performed. AAA was defined as a diameter of 30 mm or more. RESULTS: The abdominal aorta could be visualized in 742 patients. The prevalence of AAA was 4.6%. AAA prevalence increased with age, especially in men. In 34 patients AAA was unknown and aortic diameters exceeded 50 mm in 4 patients. Two underwent elective but urgent operation. Patients with AAA were older and had an increased ascending aorta diameter, larger left ventricular dimensions, higher left ventricular mass index, and lower ejection fraction. CONCLUSION: AAA is prevalent in patients referred for regular TTE. Routine rapid screening of the abdominal aorta during TTE is beneficial and should, therefore, be part of a standard TTE examination for patients older then 50 years
AB - OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the echocardiographic prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in an unselected group of patients referred for regular transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). METHODS: Prospectively, during a 3-month period, a limited ultrasound examination of the infrarenal aorta was performed. AAA was defined as a diameter of 30 mm or more. RESULTS: The abdominal aorta could be visualized in 742 patients. The prevalence of AAA was 4.6%. AAA prevalence increased with age, especially in men. In 34 patients AAA was unknown and aortic diameters exceeded 50 mm in 4 patients. Two underwent elective but urgent operation. Patients with AAA were older and had an increased ascending aorta diameter, larger left ventricular dimensions, higher left ventricular mass index, and lower ejection fraction. CONCLUSION: AAA is prevalent in patients referred for regular TTE. Routine rapid screening of the abdominal aorta during TTE is beneficial and should, therefore, be part of a standard TTE examination for patients older then 50 years
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.echo.2004.09.023
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.echo.2004.09.023
M3 - Article
C2 - 15891746
SN - 0894-7317
VL - 18
SP - 389
EP - 393
JO - Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography
JF - Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography
IS - 5
ER -