Shropshire moved a step closer to starting a new life-saving screening programme this week with the news that the NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening Programme has invited county clinicians to discuss their bid for a local screening centre at its meeting in April.
An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm is a weakness in the main blood vessel that supplies blood to your body from your heart through your chest and abdomen. Large weaknesses can give way and if this happens it is normally fatal. People who have these aneurysms do not normally notice any symptoms so screening is vital to spot the weakness and treat it before it causes serious problems.
Mr Tony Fox, Consultant Vascular Surgeon at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said: “This is a life-saving screening programme. There are around 6,000 deaths each year from ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms. Many of these deaths could be prevented if the aneurysm is spotted early enough.
“This screening programme offers a way to spot the aneurysm early and provide treatment or ongoing monitoring. But, we will only have a screening centre in Shropshire if we bring inpatient vascular surgery onto a single site and we propose that this should be the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
“If we do not bring inpatient vascular surgery onto a single site then we will not become a AAA screening centre. This would mean that patients would have to travel to hospitals outside the area for treatment. In time, it is likely that we would see more vascular surgery leaving our hospitals because most specialist treatment would be based at AAA screening centres. Eventually we could lose the service from the county completely.”
Adam Cairns, Trust Chief Executive, said: “If the people of Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales would like to see AAA screening based in the county then it is essential that we move to a single site for inpatient vascular surgery.”
If Shropshire’s bid for AAA screening is approved then the programme could be launched in the county as early as Spring 2012.
Q&A
1. What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)?
The aorta is the main blood vessel that supplies blood to your body. It runs from your heart down through your chest and abdomen. In some people, as they get older, the wall of the aorta in the abdomen can become weak. It can then start to expand and form what is called an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The condition is most common in men aged 65 and above.
2. Is an abdominal aortic aneurysm serious?
Large aneurysms are rare but can be very serious. As the wall of the aorta stretches it becomes weaker and could give way. If this happens, the person usually dies. An aorta which is only slightly larger than normal is not dangerous. However, it is still important to know about it so that we can monitor the aneurysm to see if it grows.
3. Who is most at risk?
Men are six times more likely to have this type of aneurysm than women. The chance of having an aneurysm increases with age. Your chance of having an abdominal aortic aneurysm can also increase if:
- you smoke
- you have high blood pressure
- your brother, sister or parent has, or has had, an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
4. How common is the condition?
It is estimated that around 1 in 25 men aged between 65 and 74 in England have an abdominal aortic aneurysm. This is about 4% of men in the age group.
5. Why is screening important?
If you have an aneurysm you will not generally notice any symptoms. This means that you cannot tell if you have one, as you will not feel any pain or notice anything different. A screening programme is being put in place across the country to find aneurysms early and monitor or treat them. This greatly reduces the chances of the aneurysm causing serious problems. The easiest way to find out if you have an aneurysm is to have an ultrasound scan of your abdomen.
6. When will screening be available in my area?
The NHS AAA Screening Programme is being introduced gradually in phases to make sure it works as effectively as possible. By March 2013 screening is expected to be offered to all men in England in their 65th year.
We would like to establish a local screening centre for AAA screening, but we will only be able to do this if we move to a single site for inpatient vascular surgery. This is one of the proposals in the Keeping It In The County consultation.
If we do not move to a single site for inpatient vascular surgery then we will not be able to become a centre for AAA screening.
If this happens, then men in Shropshire will need to travel to hospitals outside the area for care and treatment.
7. Who is invited for screening?
If you are a man aged over 65 you are more likely to have an abdominal aortic aneurysm. That is why the NHS AAA Screening Programme will invite all men for screening during the year they turn 65. Men over 65 who have not previously been diagnosed with an aneurysm can request a scan by contacting their local programme directly.
8. What will happen when I go for screening?
Screening involves a simple, pain-free test called an ultrasound scan to look for an aneurysm. The test is very quick and usually lasts less than 10 minutes. It is normally possible to tell you your result straight away.
9. What are the possible results of the scan?
There are three possible results from the scan:
- 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. You will not be invited for AAA screening again.
- Small aneurysm found: If a small aneurysm is found this means that the aorta is a little wider than normal. Men with a small aneurysms are invited back for regular scans to check that the aorta is not getting bigger.
- Large aneurysm found: If a large aneurysm is found this means that the aorta is much wider than normal. Only a very small number of men have this result. Men with a large aneurysm are given an appointment with a specialist team to have more scans and to talk about possible treatment, usually an operation.
More information about the NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme is available from http://aaa.screening.nhs.uk/