thumb test aortic aneurysm. 1 per 1 million people in the United States. thumb test aortic aneurysm

 
1 per 1 million people in the United Statesthumb test aortic aneurysm  A negative test does not exclude an aneurysm

5 preventive health screenings: Carotid Artery Disease, PAD, AAA, Afib, Osteporosis. Thumb test for aortic aneurysms. Introduction. deaths. 7 cm Ascending aortic and arch disease, Behcet’s syndrome, and Reiter syndrome). Carotid arteries are generally narrowed by a buildup of plaque – made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium. About abdominal aortic aneurysms. Get screened for a stroke and cardiovascular disease risk near by. Thumb test for aortic aneurysms. Atherosclerotic aortic wall damage has. The causes of aneurysms are sometimes unknown. 2021. Testing examinations can discover illness early, when they’re less complicated to treat. Aortic disease or. Carotid arteries are normally tightened by a buildup of plaque – composed of fat, cholesterol, calcium. This accumulation, called atherosclerosis, is just one of the leading causes of stroke. Accuracy of the “thumb-palm test” for detection of ascending aortic aneurysm. Some conditions that medical professionals commonly screen for. Advertisement. An aortic aneurysm is an enlargement (dilatation) of the aorta to greater than 1. An aneurysm that occurs in the part of the aorta running through the abdomen is an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Abdominal aortic aneurysm affects approximately 4–7% of men and 1–2% of women over the age of 65 years. Marfan syndrome or Loeys-Dietz syndrome) or with. 5 preventive health screenings: Carotid Artery Disease, PAD, AAA, Afib, Osteporosis. LIVEThumb palm aneurysm test. 1 Consider cardiopulmonary exercise testing when assessing people for elective repair of an asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), if it will assist in shared decision making. Some aneurysms can run in families. Carotid arteries are generally tightened by a accumulation of plaque – made up of fat, cholesterol. 4% among people between 50 and 84 years of age, or 1. Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) occur in up to 16 patients per 100 000 of the population and are increasingly amenable to surgical correction [1]. The prevalence of AAAs varies according to race and gender and increases with age. BERRY ANEURYSM Involve cerebral arteries at bifurcations Probably arise at congenital points of weakness in wall Can rupture and result in subarachnoid hemorrhage Clinically may see headache, stiff neck (meningeal irritation) and death. If the thumb crosses beyond the far edge of the flat. A thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is an abnormal bulge or "ballooning" in the wall of the aortic artery running through the thorax (chest). To make the diagnosis your provider may order some tests. Syphilitic Aneurysm – Ascending Arch of Aorta Aneurysm Aortic Valve. The bulge in the aorta happens when part of your blood vessel wall grows weak. It will indicate if a person is harbouring an aortic aneurysm — an. As expected, this test is not sensitive (7. It is called an aortic aneurysm. 5 preventive health screenings: Carotid Artery Disease, PAD, AAA, Afib, Osteporosis. Their hospital-based study population comprised 305 patients undergoing cardiac surgery, including 93 patients (30. deaths. Get screened for a stroke and cardiovascular disease risk near by. The thinner it is, the more likely it is to rupture, which is much like an over inflated balloon that is at high risk of popping. A negative test does not exclude an aneurysm. Introduction. Hoarseness. Some aortic aneurysms are hereditary or congenital, such as bicuspid aortic valve, infection or inflammatory conditions. . In other words, the majority of aneurysm patients do not manifest a positive thumb-palm sign, but patients who do have a positive sign have a very high likelihood of harboring an ascending. those with a positive family history. While the condition may cause discomfort, it typically goes undetected unless it. Thumb Test For Aortic Aneurysm. 4%) and non-AscAA disease in 246 (80. Cardinal manifestations include proximal aortic aneurysm, dislocation of the ocular lens, and long-bone overgrowth. A simple thumb test can help indicate whether a person is harboring a hidden aortic aneurysm — which can prove fatal if left undetected and untreated, new. Treating Aortic Aneurysm. It carries blood from your heart up to your head and arms and down to your abdomen, legs, and pelvis. The body's main artery is called the aorta. Aortic dissection. A carotid ultrasound is carried out to examine for narrowed carotid arteries, which boost the threat of stroke. 9 may differ. The thumb test has been recommended as a way of identifying ascending aortic aneurysms, the part of the blood vessel which comes out of the heart upwards. Thumb test for aortic aneurysms. This is due to an embolus (moving blood clot) that is formed by the abdominal aneurysm and affects the surface temperature of. The part of the aorta that passes through the chest (thoracic aortic aneurysm). A carotid artery aneurysm is a bulge in one of the arteries supplying blood to your brain and nearby structures. Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) refers to enlargement of the aorta by more than 50% of the normal diameter in segments between the aortic valve and aortic hiatus of the diaphragm (). S. If a large aneurysm ruptures it can cause huge internal bleeding and is. Listening to your heart. 5 preventive health screenings: Carotid Artery Disease, PAD, AAA, Afib, Osteporosis. This review addresses the clinical use of common imaging tests for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) in three clinical situations: screening, surveillance in a patient with an AAA, and evaluation of a symptomatic patient. “Only a. Get screened for a stroke and cardiovascular disease risk near by. These bulges develop in the part of the aorta that brings blood from the heart to the pelvic area, legs, and abdomen. Symptoms that a thoracic aortic aneurysm has ruptured or dissected include: Sharp, sudden pain in the upper back that spreads downward. Thumb Test Aneurysm. Just stick out your hand like you're telling someone to stop, and then see how far your thumb can stretch across your palm. They kill about 10,000 people each year and affect adults of all ages. m. Thumb Palm Aneurysm Test. Carotid (kuh-ROT-id) ultrasound is a secure, painless procedure that makes use of acoustic waves to take a look at the blood flow through the carotid arteries. They can also be hereditary. An aneurysm may occur in any blood vessel, but is most often seen in an artery rather than a vein. , repairs of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms and aneurysms of vessels other than the aorta. A Yale study has found that a self-conducted test involving the thumb and palm of one hand could help alert thousands of people each year to their risk of having a hidden aortic aneurysm. 1 The most worrying complication of AAA is rupture, which is usually fatal, with a reported age‐adjusted annual mortality of 15. Aortic dissection. A self-conducted test involving the thumb & palm of one hand could help. Thumb test aneurysm. They kill about 10,000 people each year and affect adults of all ages. A simple thumb test can reveal if you are at risk of having a deadly heart problem that can kill in minutes. 5 preventive health screenings: Carotid Artery Disease, PAD, AAA, Afib, Osteporosis. Wrist and thumb sign — 3. amjcard. A thoracic aortic aneurysm is a weakened area in the upper part of the aorta — the major blood vessel that feeds blood to the body. 1 This document provides. However, in the case of an aortic aneurysm, an often hidden and potentially deadly heart condition, there’s now a simple at-home test that can prevent it from causing any harm. From these results, the authors suggested a piecewise exponential equation to estimate rupture rate that incorporated all the significant risk factors in the model. Abdominal aortic aneurysms are commonly found in men aged 65-85 years. An aortic aneurysm is a balloon-like bulge in the aorta, the large artery that carries blood from the heart through the chest and torso. One of the most common inherited disorders affecting connective tissue, Marfan syndrome (MFS), is an autosomal dominant condition with a reported incidence of 1 in 3000 to 5000 individuals. Stretch the thumb as far as possible across the palm. g. Ischemic stroke. 5%), meaning that a positive test accurately connotes an aneurysm. An aneurysm occurs when part of an artery wall weakens, allowing it to abnormally balloon out or widen. They kill about 10,000 people each year and affect adults of all ages. A CT scan is considered a very safe procedure and generally involves only a small amount of X-ray radiation exposure. Another aortic disease, which often occurs in the presence of aortic aneurysms, is called aortic dissection. The aorta is the largest artery in the body, transporting freshly oxygenated blood from the heart towards the awaiting cells. If the aorta bursts, it can cause serious bleeding that can quickly lead to death. Ischemic stroke. 5cms in men, and 5. Thoracic aortic aneurysm, an aneurysm in the top of the aorta. 5–2% of the population worldwide have the possibility to be attacked by this disease, which 75% of them are male (Dargis et al. 4%). The most common types of an aneurysm is in the aorta. This build up, called atherosclerosis, is one of the leading sources of stroke. 5 centimeters in diameter is found, it should be followed for 6 to 12 months to. But a Yale study found that you can conduct your own test using the thumb and palm of one hand to assess your risk of having an aortic aneurysm. have high blood pressure. Surgery can prevent that from happening, but carries risks of its own. Important advances have been made in the diagnosis and medical and surgical care of affected individuals,. S. Some people are born with them. S. Aortic disease or an injury may also cause an aneurysm. 7 Aortic diameter may vary according to age, sex, race, height, weight, body surface area, and baseline blood pressure. rationale and impact section on identifying asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms. If you are unsure that you are at risk for having an aortic aneurysm, then you can do a thumb-palm test to determine whether you are at risk or not. Normally the abdominal aorta is a round circular structure that resembles a pipe, roughly the size of a golf ball. One in 10 people with abdominal aortic aneurysms have a family history of them. A surgeon inserts a thin, flexible tube, called a catheter, through an artery in the groin area and guides it to the aorta. Overview. In computed tomography, the upper limit for adults of the main PA diameter is 29 mm, and the upper limit of the. [2] It occurs due to the intrinsic weakness of the aortic wall. An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a bulge or swelling in the aorta, the main blood vessel that runs from the heart down through the chest and tummy Credit: Alamy. The thinner it is, the more likely it is to rupture, which is much like an over inflated balloon that is at high risk of popping. Thoracoabdominal aneurysm, a complex aneurysm that involves branches of the abdominal aorta that supply blood to the liver, intestines and kidneys. A simple thumb test can help indicate whether a person is harboring a hidden aortic aneurysm — which can prove fatal if left undetected and untreated, new re. One way to detect aortic aneurysm with thumb-palm test. 5%) for the thumb-palm test in detecting ascending aortic aneurysm. In their recent study, Blumel et al1 reported low sensitivity (7. The thumb-palm test is. The aorta carries blood from the heart to the body. 4. A CT scan shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organsIt is a simple test you can do right now, and it could save your life. Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) rarely manifest with symptoms, and about 95% of the patients. Between 2% and 8% of adults have abdominal aortic aneurysms, but they are most common among older male smokers. 2,3. Symptoms may include groin pain, syncope, paralysis, and flank mass. Thumb test aneurysm. There are two locations of aortic aneurysms. All in favor of a test for aortic aneurysms, raise your hand. Endovascular repair is a type of treatment for an abdominal aortic aneurysm, or AAA. Having symptoms may be a sign that your aortic aneurysm is about to burst. FBN1 spans about 230 kb of genomic DNA containing 66 exons (NM_000138. Difficulty breathing if it pushes on your trachea, or windpipe. The thumb-palm test is. 1 The goal of aortic aneurysm repair is to prevent the high morbidity and mortality associated with aneurysm rupture. Aortic Aneurysm. Thumb test for aneurysm. Ischemic stroke. The two types of aortic aneurysms are: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA): Abdominal aortic aneurysms occur in the lower half of the body. Get screened for a stroke and cardiovascular disease risk near by. The prevalence of the disease depends on the population studied, with reported prevalences varying between 1. Your 2 carotid arteries lie on each side of your neck. , mitral valve prolapse, aortic aneurysm, and dissection), the musculoskeletal system (e. . Especially aortic aneurysms such as aneurysms in the abdominal (AAA) or thoracic aorta (TAA) are a highly underestimated problem. 5%), meaning that many patients with disease will not be identified. If an aneurysm ruptures or causes an aortic dissection, you may experience a sudden onset of severe symptoms including: sudden severe chest or upper back pain, sometimes described as a tearing or ripping feeling. Crossref Medline Google Scholar; 4 Spittell PC, Spittell JA Jr, Joyce JW, Tajik AJ, Edwards WD, Schaff HV, Stanson AW. These aneurysms are usually asymptomatic until they rupture which is a catastrophic complication. Thumb palm test for aneurysm. 5 preventive health screenings: Carotid Artery Disease, PAD, AAA, Afib, Osteporosis. evidence review A: risk factors for predicting presence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Carotid (kuh-ROT-id) ultrasound is a secure, painless treatment that utilizes sound waves to examine the blood flow via the carotid arteries. Trouble swallowing due to pressure on the esophagus. The outcomes can assist your medical professional determine a therapy to decrease your stroke danger. Aortic disease can also. Chest X-ray. The outcomes can assist your doctor figure out a treatment to lower your stroke danger. This buildup, called atherosclerosis, is among the leading sources of stroke. This imaging test is simple and painless and shows if you have an AAA. S. Abdominal aortic aneurysms are the easiest type to identify and follow, Brown says. An aneurysm is a weak, bulging area in the aorta wall. 4% and 12. True aneurysm of a thumb digital artery in a radiographer: a case report. With increasing use of endovascular techniques for repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms, the prevalence of leakage into excluded aneurysm sacs (endoleaks) as a complication has risen. Others relate to personal habits. . According to a Yale News report, aortic aneurysms are the 13 th most common cause of U. A simple test using one’s thumb might be the unassuming key that uncovers a serious heart condition: an ascending aortic aneurysm. Less common but potentially serious causes of a numb thumb include a stroke, a heart attack, or. It is a simple test you can do right now, and it could save your life. Important advances have been made in the diagnosis and medical and surgical care of. All in favor of a test for aortic aneurysms, raise your hand. There are two primary types of aortic aneurysms. The larger an aneurysm grows, the more likely it will burst or rupture, causing intense abdominal or back pain. Faster growing aneuryms should be considerd for intervention sooner than the usual operative. Thumb Palm Test Aneurysm. Get screened for a stroke and cardiovascular disease risk near by. excessive aortic root dilatation (>1. The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the human body. An aneurysm is an enlargement of the aorta and as the aorta enlarges, it becomes thinner. ; An ultrasound: This test utilizes sound waves to make images of the body’s organs. They kill about 10,000 people each year and affect adults of all ages. e. Trouble swallowing or pain with swallowing (if the aneurysm presses on your esophagus ). This test uses X-rays to create cross-sectional images of the structures inside the belly area. This is how the thumb test, which is supposed to indicate an aortic aneurysm, works. You can get some screenings in. The aorta is the largest artery in the body. They kill about 10,000 people each year and affect adults of all ages. It involves holding out one hand, keeping the palm flat, and laying your thumb down over it. In an estimated 20% of people with aortic aneurysm, the first sign or symptom of an unrecognized abdominal aortic. 5 times normal size. Although they do not normally pose a serious threat to health, theTests to diagnose an abdominal aortic aneurysm include: This is the most common test to diagnose abdominal aortic aneurysms. All men aged 65 to 75 with a history of smoking should be screened for abdominal aortic aneurysms using an ultrasound test. Talk to your doctor about whether the benefits of screening would outweigh the risks in your case. The outcomes can aid your doctor establish a therapy to lower your stroke risk. It is a simple test you can do right now, and it could save your life. Another aortic disease, which often occurs in the presence of aortic aneurysms, is called aortic dissection. Feel your skin to see if it's clammy. We just need to recognize it! Vegetables; MeatAneurysm >3 cm localized, segmental, full-thickness enlargement from diaphragm to bifurcation to right and left iliac arteries Surgery recommended Size >5. Sound waves are used to show how blood flows through the structures in the belly area, including the aorta. We suggest that the thumb-palm test be part of the standard physical examination, especially in patients with suspicion of ascending aortic aneurysm (e. It runs from your heart down through your chest and abdomen. Glenn Professor of Surgery at Yale University and director emeritus of the Aortic Institute. Sources mention the thumb palm test consists of holding up one hand and. 2. It's often the screening method of choice for detecting an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a weakened, bulging spot in your abdominal aorta, the artery that runs. Aortic aneurysm is characterized by a permanent increase in the diameter of the aorta (>50% increase). Elytriades, MD, the William W. Finding an aortic aneurysm before it ruptures offers your best chance of recovery. Incredibly the aorta pumps around 200,000,000 liters of blood around the body in a lifetime. About abdominal aortic aneurysms. be ordered when there is a previous positive genetic test result in the family. 2021. Get screened for a stroke and cardiovascular disease risk near by. Blood pressure - keep your blood pressure. dilatation at the aortic sinotubular junction. An aortic aneurysm is a danger. Look for symptoms of medical conditions that are risk factors for an aortic. An aneurysm is a bulge or weakness in your blood vessel. Aortic aneurysm describes an aorta that is enlarged in size. They kill about 10,000 people each year and affect adults of all ages. In the United States, the estimated prevalence is 1. If you are unsure that you are at risk for having an aortic aneurysm, then you can do a thumb-palm test to determine whether you are at risk or not. Low blood pressure. In other words, the majority of aneurysm patients do not manifest a positive thumb-palm sign, but patients who do have a positive sign have a very high likelihood of harboring an. 5 preventive health screenings: Carotid Artery Disease, PAD, AAA, Afib, Osteporosis. 1,2 Aneurysms are usually asymptomatic until they rupture. Carotid arteries are generally narrowed by a build-up of plaque – comprised of. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. The results can aid your physician identify a therapy to decrease your stroke threat. Jane Fonda Shares Her Perspective on Aging and Her Secrets for Staying Young at Heart. As an aortic aneurysm grows, you might notice symptoms including: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. This accumulation, called atherosclerosis, is one of the leading causes of stroke. Objectives: Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in a hostile neck has been associated with adverse outcomes. An aneurysm is a weak spot in a blood vessel wall. 1 Even when considering just the “sporadic” aneurysms (ie, aneurysms in which there is no evidence of a syndromic, familial, or known genetic etiology), a. Most of the literature is devoted to the study of the diameter of AAA since it is known that risk of rupture increases exponentially with. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a focal dilatation of the 3 layers of the abdominal aorta vessel wall of at least 50% more than the expected normal diameter (or proximal segment) of the aorta. All in favor of a test for aortic aneurysms, raise your hand A Yale study has found that a self-conducted test involving the thumb and palm of one hand could help alert thousands of people each year to their risk of having a hidden aortic aneurysm. Aneurysms of the aortic root and ascending aorta are typically diagnosed at younger patient ages than aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta (60 versus 72 years, respectively). Clammy skin can be a tell-tale symptom of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. “Our study showed that the majority of aneurysm patients do not manifest a positive thumb-palm sign, but patients who do have a positive test have a high likelihood of harboring an aneurysm,”. It helps indicate if someone has a hidden aortic aneurysm - a bulge in the wall of a vessel connected to the heart and down to the stomach. Sustained subcutaneous angiotensin II infusion can induce aortic aneurysms in mice. Who to call after the test or procedure if you have questions or problems. Your 2 carotid arteries lie on each side of your neck. . By Daniel Reynen Citizen Health Columnist; Dec 16, 2021 Dec 16, 2021; Facebook; Twitter;Thumb palm test for aortic aneurysm. Angiogram: For a traditional angiogram, doctors insert a catheter (a thin tube) into your body to. Cardiol. This accumulation, called atherosclerosis, is among the leading sources of stroke. It may cause back or belly pain, or a pulsing feeling in your belly. We calculated the accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) of the thumb palm test in determining presence or absence of AscAA (defined as ascending aortic diameter > 3. a, b Histological analyses of surgically dissected aortic tissue samples from the proband with LDS and from a non-familial thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) in a 70-year-old patient. Thumb Test Aortic Aneurysm. Aortic aneurysm. 5%) but high specificity (98. An MRI scan: This uilizes very strong. TAA occurs in 5-10/100 000 person-yr. They can also be hereditary. The results can help your medical professional identify a treatment to decrease your stroke threat. WATCH: FOX 56 News from 5-9 a. An ultrasound, X-ray, CT scan, angiogram,. The abdominal aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body and is usually around 2cm wide – roughly the width of a garden hose. 5 cm or more over 6 to 12 months, regardless of its size. deaths. An aneurysm is defined as a segmental, full-thickness dilation of a blood vessel 50 percent greater than its normal diameter [ 2,3 ]. I71. Types of Aortic Aneurysms. They usually grow slowly. The test should especially. Aortic aneurysms are the 13th most common cause. Thumb test for aortic aneurysm. Abdominal aortic aneurysms are defined as having an aortic diameter of more than 3 cm. Lexington 35°. [1][2] The defect is in the FBN1 gene of chromosome 15, which produces fibrillin, a connective tissue protein. An AAA is typically defined as aortic enlargement with a diameter of 3. Small abdominal aortic aneurysms, up to 5. 5 preventive health screenings: Carotid Artery Disease, PAD, AAA, Afib, Osteporosis. An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is defined as a dilatation of the abdominal aorta greater than 3cm. Low blood pressure. 030. Pressure on a nerve is one of the most common causes of a numb thumb. . If you do, your provider will recommend additional ultrasounds at regular intervals (usually. The most common emergency test for aortic aneurysm involves a computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest, and possibly abdomen and pelvis. It may be used to check for a number of conditions. If an aneurysm smaller than 5. Electrocardiogram (ECG) These tests are almost always done but are not enough to fully identify an aortic aneurysm or dissection (tear). 6%) with ascending aortic aneurysm as diagnosed by transesophageal. 114-116, 10. No case of Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos or other collagen disorder was identified. An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the aorta, the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. We conducted the thumb-palm test in 305 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with intra-operative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for a variety of disorders: ascending aneurysm. Aortic root dilation (with a z score ≥ 2 for adults ages 20 or older or a z score ≥ 3 for patients younger than age 20) Systemic feature scoring table Feature and value. Seminal work from various researchers have identified several genetic factors and mutations that predispose to aortic aneurysms, which will aid in better screening and early. Multiple randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that one-time, ultrasound-based abdominal aortic aneurysm. Thumb test for Aortic Aneurysm,help determine if someone is suffering from an aortic aneurysm that is hiddenthat could be fatal Aortic Aneurysm. That is to say, a positive test implies a substantial likelihood of harboring an ascending aortic aneurysm. The large artery is called the aorta. They kill about 10,000 people each year and affect adults of all ages. Aortic aneurysm is a focal or diffuse dilatation of the aorta involving all three layers of the aortic wall. If you have symptoms of a thoracic aortic aneurysm, your health care provider may ask about your family's medical history. , tall stature with. And the cause of the aortic aneurysm can be hereditary or congenital. amjcard. Thumb aneurysm test. Take the thumb-palm test for aortic aneurysm. Just stick out your hand like you're telling someone to stop, and then see how far your thumb can stretch across your palm. An aneurysm usually occurs where the wall has become weak and has lost its elastic properties, so it doesn’t return to its normal shape after the blood has passed through. It is not known how accurate this test may be. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. The thumb-palm test is. Often the ECG result is normal in uncomplicated aortic aneurysms. L. Though occurrence of TAAs is rare, they. See how you save!Inherited thoracic aortopathies denote conditions in which abnormalities lead to thoracic aortic wall weakness or abnormal aortic hemodynamic profiles, predisposing patients to aortic dilatation, aneurysm formation, and acute aortic complications. Clinical features and differential diagnosis of aortic dissection: experience with 236 cases (1980 through 1990). Being able to move the thumb in that way is an indirect indication that a person’s joints are lax. A study determined that the thumb palm test is effective in detecting how likely a person is to suffer an aortic aneurysm. Thumb Test For Aortic Aneurysm. 6%) (including CABG, valve repair, and descending aortic aneurysm). They kill about 10,000 people each year and affect adults of all ages. The results can aid your physician identify a therapy to decrease your stroke threat. 2 For guidance on other preoperative tests, see the NICE guideline on routine preoperative tests for elective surgery. deaths. Wrist and thumb sign — 3. Clinical trials determine if a new test or treatment for a disease is effective and safe by comparing groups receiving different tests/treatments. An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is defined as an aorta having a diameter of at least one and a-half times the normal diameter of the aorta at the level of the renal arteries [1].