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Our dedicated vascular team and up-to-the-minute
technology can make the difference.
Q
HOW CAN YOU TELL IF
YOU HAVE AN AAA?
Answer:
Because AAAs often
don’t cause signs or symptoms,
even when they’re growing, they
are found during routine physi-
cal exams or tests for something
else. But if you’re at risk for an
AAA, you can be screened, which
is usually done using ultrasound.
Medicare pays for a one-time
AAA ultrasound if you:
• Have a family history of ab-
dominal aortic aneurysms
• Are a man age 65 to 75 and
you have smoked at least
100 cigarettes in your lifetime
Talk with your doctor about
screening if you’re concerned
about your risk.
Q
HOW IS AN
AAA TREATED?
Answer:
It usually depends
on its size.
For example, an aneurysm of
less than 5.5 centimeters (about
2 inches) may not need treatment
at all. Instead, your doctor might
keep an eye on its growth with
follow-up ultrasounds.
You also might be given
medicines—for high blood
pressure, for example—to reduce
the risk of a rupture. Surgery
may be needed for an aneurysm
that is larger than 5.5 centimeters
or is growing fast.
Q & A: DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT ARE KEY
Q
WHO’S AT RISK
FOR AN AAA?
Answer:
You’re more likely
to have an AAA if you:
• Are male
• Are 65 or older
• Have a history of smoking
• Have a family history of aortic
aneurysms
• Have a history of aneurysms
in the arteries of your legs
• Have high blood pressure
or other conditions that can
weaken arterial walls
Sources: National Institutes of Health; Society
of Interventional Radiology
AAA SURGERY SP I NE SURGERY STROKE TREATMENT
When Judy Brannon happened to read
the
Partners
issue from January, she
learned the importance of a timely
diagnosis and treatment of vascular
disease. After reviewing the signs, risk
factors and often hidden symptoms,
she decided to get checked out.
“I came in for a screening and then
met with Dr. Brian Sellers, who found I
needed an abdominal aortic aneurysm
surgical repair,” Brannon says. “The
next couple of weeks, I had all kinds
of tests to prepare me for a success-
ful surgery. Thankfully, I qualified for
an endovascular repair, which meant I
could recover more quickly.”
A PREFERRED OPTION
Endovascular repair is a preferred
treatment for many people with an
abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). It is
less invasive than open-heart surgery
because it avoids a large incision in the
abdomen or chest; only very small inci-
sions are required.
“Now my children know this is some-
thing they need to keep an eye on, be-
cause the symptoms can be hereditary,”
she says. “That
Partners
magazine
saved my life. Had I not read that back
cover, I wouldn’t have come in for that
screening or had my lifesaving surgery.
Jackson will always be my hospital.”
Judy Brannon lives happily in
Wetumpka with her husband, Charles.
“
PARTNERS
MAGAZINE SAVED MY LIFE”
www.jackson.org11