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University Hospital to offer free abdominal aortic aneurysm screenings With no known symptoms and no known cause, an abdominal aortic aneurysm can be a silent killer, taking the lives of approximately 15,000 unsuspecting Americans every year. An ultrasound screening can sharply reduce the risk of dying from a ruptured aneurysm among men ages 65 and older. University Hospital will offer free ultrasound screenings from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, in the Surgery Clinic on the first floor of University Hospital. Appointments are required. To make an appointment, call (573) 884-1975. “We know that screenings can save lives, and this is really an important event,” said Rumi Faizer, M.D., assistant professor of vascular surgery at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine. “A screening is a simple ultrasound. It’s a five-minute test that is not invasive or painful.” Abdominal aortic aneurysms can develop in anyone, but they are most prevalent in men over the age of 65. Although an exact cause is unknown, smoking is widely considered a contributing risk factor to aneurysms. “It’s strongly recommended that any man over the age of 65 who has a family history of aneurysms, or a history of smoking, schedule a screening as soon as possible,” said Faizer. The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body and the most common place in the arteries for an aneurysm to form. Abdominal aortic aneurysms occur in the abdominal region, a portion of the aorta that runs from the heart to the waist, and can enlarge undetected for years. If an aneurysm ruptures, internal bleeding occurs and the blood supply is interrupted to many critical organs. Emergency surgery is required and even then, only about 20 percent of those experiencing an abdominal aortic aneurysm survive. “Rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is completely preventable,” said Faizer. “If we know someone has an aneurysm, we can repair it and they won’t die from an aneurysm rupture.” University Hospital and Clinics, a part of the University of Missouri Health Care system, serves patients from every county in Missouri. The 274-bed hospital specializes in treating the most severe illnesses and injuries, offering the only Level I trauma center in mid-Missouri, intensive care units and highly specialized medical and surgical services. |
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