title: Unrecognised aneurysmal disease in male hypertensive patients.
abstract: The risk of an aneurysm leaking is related to its size. The operative mortality of elective surgery should be less than 5% but is frequently more than 50% following rupture. Many patients previously undiagnosed present with rupture, yet are on long-term treatment for hypertension. Two-hundred hypertensive male patients over the age of 50 have been clinically examined, and subsequently undergone ultrasound examination of the abdominal aorta. Fourteen asymptomatic aneurysms were detected, 9 on clinical examination, confirmed by ultrasound and C.T., and a further 5 detected by ultrasound, and also confirmed by C.T. Twenty-four patients were found to have carotid bruits, in 12 of whom the bruits were bilateral. Sixty-seven patients were found to have peripheral vascular disease. Routine abdominal ultrasound examination should be included in the regular assessment of hypertensive patients.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Twomey
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Twomey
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wilkins
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D012306:Risk; D014463:Ultrasonography