If identified an asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) on ultrasound

Identifying asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms

Offer an aortic ultrasound to people in whom a diagnosis of asymptomatic AAA is being considered if they are not already in the NHS screening programme.

• Refer people with an AAA that is 5.5 cm or larger to a regional vascular service, to be seen within 2 weeks of diagnosis
  
  
• Refer people with an AAA that is 3.0 cm to 5.4 cm to a regional vascular service, to be seen within 12 weeks of diagnosis

Offer an aortic ultrasound to people with a suspected AAA on abdominal palpation.

Notes:

Encourage men aged 66 or over to self-refer to the NHS AAA screening programme if they have not already been screened and they have any of the following risk factors:

• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• coronary, cerebrovascular or peripheral arterial disease
• family history of AAA
• hyperlipidaemia
• hypertension
• they smoke or used to smoke

Consider an aortic ultrasound for women aged 70 and over if AAA has not already been excluded on abdominal imaging and they have any of the following risk factors:

• COPD
• coronary, cerebrovascular or peripheral arterial disease
• family history of AAA
• hyperlipidaemia
• hypertension
• they smoke or used to smoke

Be aware that people of European family origin are at a higher risk of an AAA.

Reference:

• NICE (March 2020).Abdominal aortic aneurysm: diagnosis and management