Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening – a quick ten minute scan that can save lives

Posted on September 7th, 2018

The national NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme invites men in their 65th year to attend for this very important screening test (a quick 10 minute ultrasound scan).  The screening test is used to establish whether someone has an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), a balloon-like swelling in the main blood vessel (aorta) in the abdomen.  An AAA does not usually present with any symptoms, so people cannot tell that they have one.  If the swelling gets too big, it can burst causing back or tummy pain, collapse and often death.

It is estimated that 80% of those with a burst AAA will not survive.  The national NHS AAA screening programme aims to reduce the number of deaths from an AAA by up to 50% through early detection, appropriate monitoring and treatment.  Your local NHS AAA screening programme is based in Nottinghamshire and can be contacted on 0115 9249924, ext. 62394 or 62378.

The Nottinghamshire AAA screening programme automatically sends out invitation letters to all those people born male, who are registered with a Nottinghamshire GP as male and who are in their 65th year.  People born male over the age of 65 can request to be screened by contacting the screening programme on the number above.  They will not routinely be sent an invitation letter.  People in their 65th year and older, who have transitioned from male to female, are also eligible for screening and can access this by contacting the local screening programme on the above number.

More information about AAA screening can be obtained from the following links:

• National information leaflet
• National NHS Screening Programmes information leaflet for trans people
• An Easy Read national information leaflet
• An audio guide
• National information leaflet in other languages
• Decision aid

It is important that people who are sent an invitation letter, as well as those listed above as eligible, consider this information to help them to decide if they want to attend for screening.

Please do contact the Nottinghamshire AAA screening programme on 0115 9249924, ext. 62394 or 62378 if you would like further information or require additional assistance in order to be able to attend for screening.