Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is a dilation or swelling of the Aorta, the largest blood vessel in the abdomen.

This condition can be present in as many as 8% of men over the age of 65, but is considerably less common in women, with approximately four times as many occuring in men.

It is far more common in people who have been smokers, or who are at risk of heart disease for other reasons.

Aneurysms usually cause no symptoms at all unless they rupture, in which case only about 20% of people survive.

Treatment before the aneurysm bursts can be life-saving, dramatically reducing the risk of rupture and subsequent death.   These days, most aneurysms are simply monitored and if they get big enough are most commonly treated with a simple EVAR procedure which 'repairs' the aneurysm from inside the blood vessel. 

In the UK, men over 65 are screened with an ultrasound scan to ensure they do not have an aneurysm, and to arrange follow-up and timely treatment if they do.  Many other countries are currently working on national screening programmes.

There is no national screening programme in New Zealand, but you can still pay to have the screening done privately.  The cost varies but is usually about $200 (2023 prices) and only one screening scan is recommended.  If an aneurysm is found, there is an excellent aneurysm follow-up service provided at no cost to you through the public health system.  There is no evidence that repeating scans is needed - the consensus is that one is enough.

We are inviting men aged 65 to consider whether they would like to have a scan arranged, and if this is the case, we will happily send a form to a private provider - you will then be responsible for organising the test with them and for any fee that may be incurred.  We will contact you with your results within 5 working days so if you do not hear from us, please get in touch - we have no control over when or if you have a scan so it is possible that if a result is not sent to us, we may not realise the test was done. 

Not all men will need a screening scan.  The aorta is often seen on other scans of the abdomen and we will try to use this information if we can.  Generally if you had a normal aorta noted on a scan between the ages of 55 and 65, we would recommend you do not need another for at least 10 years.  There is no evidence that repeating scans is needed - the consensus is that one is enough.

Women can also have scans, but the evidence for value is less as women are much less likely to develop AAA and so screening is not generally recommended.  Women who choose to have screening should probably consider doing so at age 75 as there is some evidence that aneurysms develop about 10 years later in women, but there is no clear consensus on whether the benefits of screening exceed risks - we recommend that women requesting screening should do so at a consultation with the doctor to ensure that care is properly individualised.