[Back pain? Don't forget the abdomen].
Three patients, men aged 62, 57 and 44 years, had suffered for 6-24 months from low back pain, which after an acute moment had worsened with pain radiating to one leg. In all 3 patients, a neurological cause was considered first, but investigations revealed that they had a large abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) resulting in emergency surgery. The oldest man died from late complications; the younger men made a good recovery. An AAA should be considered in patients with low back pain and risk factors such as male gender, older age, cigarette smoking, hypertension and previous manifestations of vascular disease. Making the diagnosis as early as possible can be lifesaving.
ten Houten
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Afd. Neurologie, Medisch Centrum Alkmaar, Postbus 501, 1800 AM Alkmaar.
Meijer
R W
RW
Heitbrink
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D001416:Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome