title: An assessment of between-recti distance and divarication in patients with and without abdominal aortic aneurysm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study assessed whether there is a greater incidence of divarication of the recti and whether between-recti distance is greater in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study consisted of two parts: a radiological and a clinical assessment. All patients with a confirmed AAA on computerised tomography were included and compared with patients in whom AAA was excluded with imaging. Between-recti distance was measured using a computerised image viewer and clinical divarication was assessed by a surgical registrar or consultant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the radiological part of the study, 108 patients with AAA were compared with 84 with colorectal cancer. Median between-recti distance was 38 mm (range, 25-59 mm) in the AAA group and 27 mm (range, 20-44.5 mm) in the non-AAA group (P=0.006). AAA diameter did not correlate with between-recti distance. The clinical study included 50 patients (25 AAA). The groups were well matched, with only a greater incidence of diabetes in the AAA group (20% vs 0%; P=0.018). AAA patients were more likely to have clinically detected divarication of the recti (76% vs 36%; P=0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with AAA have greater radiological and clinical evidence of divarication. It is suggested that patients with divarication be screened for AAA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, UK. HenryDe-Ath@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Henry D I
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: De'Ath
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Lovegrove
authors.forename: Mahsa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Javid
authors.forename: Noel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: Timothy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Magee
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Galland
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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