Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm screening (AAA) is being offered free of charge by the NHS to all men during their 65th year. We routinely invite all men during the year of their 65th birthday but also screen gentleman over the age of 65 who self refers to the programme.
This programme aims to reduce aneurysm-related mortality through early detection, appropriate monitoring and treatment. An AAA usually causes no symptoms, but if it bursts, it’s extremely dangerous and usually fatal. Around 8 out of 10 people with a ruptured AAA either die before they reach hospital or don’t survive surgery. AAAs are most common in men aged over 65. A rupture accounts for more than 1 in 50 of all deaths in this group and a total of 6,000 deaths in England and Wales each year. All men registered with a General Practitioner will be invited for a scan the year they turn 65.
The Hertfordshire AAA Screening Programme has been running in the community since July 2013.
Screening involves a simple ultrasound scan of your stomach (abdomen) which takes about 10-15 minutes. If the aorta is not enlarged, then the gentleman is discharged from the programme. If a small to medium aneurysm is detected, then he will be monitored either yearly or 3 monthly depending on the size of the aorta. If he is found to have a large aneurysm (>5.5cm) then he will be referred to the vascular team at Watford General Hospital within 2 weeks where he will be advised on further treatment. All surgical procedures to repair the aneurysm are carried out within 8 weeks of referral. The GP will be informed of the screening result by letter. Hertfordshire have screen approximately 6,500 gentlemen a year.
The Hertfordshire AAA screening programme has screening clinics in 16 venues across Hertfordshire. These are based in GP surgeries and 4 local hospitals. The clinics run all day Monday to Friday with two screening technicians in each clinic.
There are 39 AAA screening programmes Nationally and the Hertfordshire programme have just received the “Roll of Honour” by the National AAA Screening Programme achieving the most successful programme. In May 2016 Hertfordshire achieved the Purple Star Award for our outstanding work with our learning disability community, making reasonable adjustments whenever needed.
If you would like to find out more about our programme, do not hesitate to contact the programme on 01727 897719 or view the AAA Screening Programme website www.aaa.screening.nhs.uk.