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Next Saturday · 02-01-2005, 12:36 PM

From the Chicago Suntimes--if only Gord had read this:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/healt...s-aneur01.html

Panel calls for screenings for abdominal aneurysms

February 1, 2005

BY JIM RITTER Health Reporter

About 1.5 million older Americans are walking around with a life-threatening time bomb -- a dangerous bulge in the aorta, the body's main artery.

This bulge, called an aneurysm, could burst at any time, causing profuse and usually fatal bleeding in the abdominal area.

On Monday, an influential expert panel for the first time recommended mass screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms, or AAAs, which kill at least 15,000 Americans per year.

Men between 65 and 75 who have smoked more than 100 cigarettes in their lifetimes should get one-time screenings for AAAs with ultrasounds, the U. S. Preventive Services Task Force said. About 500 such men would need to be screened to prevent one AAA-related death in the next five years.

The government-supported task force published its guidelines in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Some doctors say the task force did not go far enough. The Society of Vascular Surgery recommends AAA screening for all men age 60 to 85, women 60 to 85 with cardiovascular risk factors and anyone older than 50 with a family history of AAA.

"We're a little disappointed about [the task force] short-changing women," said Dr. William Flinn, vice chairman of the American Vascular Association.

But men are about four times more likely than women to have AAAs. In women, most deaths from ruptured AAAs occur after age 80, and at that age, "any benefit of screening for AAA would be minimal," the Task Force said.

However, a doctor might discuss screening for women in some cases, such as that of a smoker in her early 70s with a family history of AAA, the task force said.

How the problem is fixed

Hospitals charge as much as $300 for AAA ultrasound screenings. Medicare doesn't pay for them, nor do many health plans. Vascular surgeons are lobbying Congress to require Medicare coverage. Mass screening could cost $50 to $75 per test, Flinn said.

Ruptured AAAs kill about 80 percent of patients. And survivors face major surgery, with possible complications such as heart attacks and kidney failure, Flinn said. "It's an absolute catastrophe, and totally preventable."

If caught in time, an AAA can be repaired. In a long-established technique, the surgeon opens the abdomen and replaces the bulging part of the aorta with a Dacron or Gore-Tex pipe. Patients are hospitalized up to 10 days and can take months to recover, said Northwestern Memorial Hospital vascular surgeon Dr. William Pearce.

In a newer procedure, the surgeon makes an incision in the groin and snakes a stent through the femoral artery to the aorta. Patients stay just one night, and can return to work the next day.

"It's a beautiful way to have it done," said Thomas L. Hogan of Chicago Heights, who had the less-invasive repair at Northwestern. "There was hardly any recovery whatsoever."

But stents can leak, so patients need follow-up CT scans every six to 12 months, Pearce said. Moreover, some AAAs can be repaired only with major surgery.

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vaporizer

02-01-2005, 12:36 PM	#2
Next Saturday Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 63	From the Chicago Suntimes--if only Gord had read this: http://www.suntimes.com/output/healt...s-aneur01.html Panel calls for screenings for abdominal aneurysms February 1, 2005 BY JIM RITTER Health Reporter About 1.5 million older Americans are walking around with a life-threatening time bomb -- a dangerous bulge in the aorta, the body's main artery. This bulge, called an aneurysm, could burst at any time, causing profuse and usually fatal bleeding in the abdominal area. On Monday, an influential expert panel for the first time recommended mass screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms, or AAAs, which kill at least 15,000 Americans per year. Men between 65 and 75 who have smoked more than 100 cigarettes in their lifetimes should get one-time screenings for AAAs with ultrasounds, the U. S. Preventive Services Task Force said. About 500 such men would need to be screened to prevent one AAA-related death in the next five years. The government-supported task force published its guidelines in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Some doctors say the task force did not go far enough. The Society of Vascular Surgery recommends AAA screening for all men age 60 to 85, women 60 to 85 with cardiovascular risk factors and anyone older than 50 with a family history of AAA. "We're a little disappointed about [the task force] short-changing women," said Dr. William Flinn, vice chairman of the American Vascular Association. But men are about four times more likely than women to have AAAs. In women, most deaths from ruptured AAAs occur after age 80, and at that age, "any benefit of screening for AAA would be minimal," the Task Force said. However, a doctor might discuss screening for women in some cases, such as that of a smoker in her early 70s with a family history of AAA, the task force said. How the problem is fixed Hospitals charge as much as $300 for AAA ultrasound screenings. Medicare doesn't pay for them, nor do many health plans. Vascular surgeons are lobbying Congress to require Medicare coverage. Mass screening could cost $50 to $75 per test, Flinn said. Ruptured AAAs kill about 80 percent of patients. And survivors face major surgery, with possible complications such as heart attacks and kidney failure, Flinn said. "It's an absolute catastrophe, and totally preventable." If caught in time, an AAA can be repaired. In a long-established technique, the surgeon opens the abdomen and replaces the bulging part of the aorta with a Dacron or Gore-Tex pipe. Patients are hospitalized up to 10 days and can take months to recover, said Northwestern Memorial Hospital vascular surgeon Dr. William Pearce. In a newer procedure, the surgeon makes an incision in the groin and snakes a stent through the femoral artery to the aorta. Patients stay just one night, and can return to work the next day. "It's a beautiful way to have it done," said Thomas L. Hogan of Chicago Heights, who had the less-invasive repair at Northwestern. "There was hardly any recovery whatsoever." But stents can leak, so patients need follow-up CT scans every six to 12 months, Pearce said. Moreover, some AAAs can be repaired only with major surgery. ________ vaporizer Last edited by Next Saturday; 01-19-2011 at 03:44 PM.