Men's Health

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a diagram of an Aortic Aneuysm

Dorset and Wiltshire AAA Screening Programme

The Dorset and Wiltshire National Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening Programme invites all men registered with a GP for a screening in the year they turn 65. Men over 65 who have not previously been screened or treated for an AAA can request screening.

The Process will:

  • Identify aneurysms that need monitoring
  • Discover aneurysms that could rupture, enabling treatment to be offered
  • Reassure men who don't have an aneurysm.
  • An ultrasound scan of the abdomen is used to detect AAAs. The scan is carried out by a screener who is specially trained to work within the NHS AAA Screening Programme. The scan itself is quick, painless and non-invasive and the results are provided straight away.

The result

There are three possible results from the scan:

  1. Normal A normal result means that the aorta is not enlarged (there is no aneurysm). Most men have a normal result. No treatment or monitoring is needed afterwards. We will not invite you for AAA screening again.
  2. Small aneurysm found If we find a small aneurysm this means that the aorta is a little wider than normal. We invite men with a small aneurysm back for regular scans to check whether the aorta is getting bigger.
  3. Large aneurysm found If we find a large aneurysm this means that the aorta is much wider than normal. Only about 1 in 100 men who are screened have a large aneurysm. We give men with a large aneurysm an appointment with a specialist team to have more scans and to talk about possible treatment, usually an operation.

 

Telephone: 01722 336262 Ext 2640 or 2539