Evidence-Based Screening and Management of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Authors: John D. Birkmeyer, Gilbert R. Upchurch
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2007)

Editorials15 May 2007Evidence-Based Screening and Management of Abdominal Aortic AneurysmJohn D. Birkmeyer, MD and Gilbert R. Upchurch Jr., MDJohn D. Birkmeyer, MDFrom the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. and Gilbert R. Upchurch Jr., MDFrom the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-146-10-200705150-00009 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Each year, approximately 10 000 Americans die of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), making this condition the 14th leading cause of death in the United States. Because most of these patients die of rupture of previously undetected AAAs, many researchers advocate earlier diagnosis using screening ultrasonography. A recent meta-analysis of 4 large, randomized clinical trials suggested that population-based screening substantially reduces AAA-related mortality in selected patient groups (1–5). In light of these findings, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and a consortium of leading professional organizations recommend 1-time screening with abdominal ultrasonography for all men age 65 to 74 years who ...References1. Multicentre Aneurysm Screening Study Group. The Multicentre Aneurysm Screening Study (MASS) into the effect of abdominal aortic aneurysm screening on mortality in men: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2002;360:1531-9. [PMID: 12443589] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Fleming C, Whitlock EP, Beil TL, Lederle FA. Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm: a best-evidence systematic review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142:203-11. [PMID: 15684209] LinkGoogle Scholar3. Lindholt JS, Juul S, Fasting H, Henneberg EW. 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J Vasc Surg. 1989;10:39-43. [PMID: 2787414] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. Webster MW, Ferrell RE, St Jean PL, Majumder PP, Fogel SR, Steed DL. Ultrasound screening of first-degree relatives of patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm. J Vasc Surg. 1991;13:9-13; discussion 13-4. [PMID: 1987400] Google Scholar11. Lederle FA, Kane RL, MacDonald R, Wilt TJ. Systematic review: repair of unruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Ann Intern Med. 2007;146:735-41. LinkGoogle Scholar12. EUROSTAR Collaborators. Secondary interventions following endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair using current endografts. A EUROSTAR report. J Vasc Surg. 2006;43:896-902. [PMID: 16678679] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar13. Cowan JA, Dimick JB, Henke PK, Rectenwald J, Stanley JC, Upchurch GR. Epidemiology of aortic aneurysm repair in the United States from 1993 to 2003. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006;1085:1-10. [PMID: 17182917] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.Disclosures: None disclosed.Corresponding Author: John D. Birkmeyer, MD, M-SCORE, 211 North 4th Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48104; e-mail, [email protected]umich.edu.Current Author Addresses: Drs. Birkmeyer and Upchurch: M-SCORE, 211 North 4th Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoA Sustained Mortality Benefit from Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Lois G. Kim , R. Alan P. Scott , Hilary A. Ashton , Simon G. Thompson , and Systematic Review: Repair of Unruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Frank A. Lederle , Robert L. Kane , Roderick MacDonald , and Timothy J. Wilt Metrics Cited ByEndovascular Versus Open Aortic Reconstruction: A Comparison of OutcomesCardiovascular risk in patients with small and medium abdominal aortic aneurysms, and no history of cardiovascular diseaseChangement des pratiques de transfusion au passage du nouveau millénaire : Étude rétrospective des patients adultes ayant un traitement chirurgical réglé d'anévrysme de l'aorte abdominale dans la base de données de la Mayo ClinicChanges in Red Blood Cell Transfusion Practice during the Turn of the Millennium: A Retrospective Analysis of Adult Patients Undergoing Elective Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Using the Mayo DatabaseAre Screening Guidelines for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Being Implemented within a Large VA Primary Health Care System?Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms, Increasing Infrarenal Aortic Diameter, and Risk of Total Mortality and Incident Cardiovascular Disease EventsDépistage échographique des anévrismes de l'aorte abdominale : rapport coût — efficacité et mortalité après 7 ans 15 May 2007Volume 146, Issue 10Page: 749-750KeywordsAneurysmsLaparoscopyLife expectancyScreening guidelinesSurgeryUltrasound imaging ePublished: 15 May 2007 Issue Published: 15 May 2007 CopyrightCopyright © 2007 by American College of Physicians. 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