How fast do very small abdominal aortic aneurysms grow?
Fifty patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms from 2.5 to 5.0 cm in anteroposterior diameter (median 3.1 cm, mean +/- S.E. 3.3 +/- 0.1 cm) were initially offered non-operative treatment. Two patients have subsequently undergone successful elective aneurysm resection because of increase in aneurysm size, and a third has died. The median annual growth rate of the aneurysm has been 0.22 cm and 77.8% increased in size between 6 monthly ultrasound examination. For aneurysms less than 4.0 cm the maximum 6 monthly increment in diameter was 0.7 cm. Even the smallest abdominal aortic aneurysms usually progressively increase in size and 6 monthly ultrasound remeasurement of aneurysm diameter is an essential component of non-operative management.
Collin
J
J
Nuffield Department of Surgery, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, U.K.
Araujo
L
L
Walton
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000473:pathology; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors