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The National Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening Programme (Dorset and Wiltshire) invites all men registered with a GP for a screening in the year they turn 65. Men over 65 who have not previously been screened or treated for an AAA can request screening.

The Process will:

• Identify aneurysms that need monitoring
• Discover aneurysms that could rupture, enabling treatment to be offered
• Reassure men who don't have an aneurysm.
• An ultrasound scan of the abdomen is used to detect AAAs. The scan is carried out by a screener who is specially trained to work within the NHS AAA Screening Programme. The scan itself is quick, painless and non-invasive and the results are provided straight away.

The result

There are three possible results from the scan:

• Non-Aneurysmal
  This result means that the aorta is not enlarged (there is no aneurysm). Most men have this result. No treatment or monitoring is needed afterwards. We will not invite you for AAA screening again.
• Small aneurysm found
  If we find a small aneurysm this means that the aorta is a little wider than we would expect to find. We invite men with a small aneurysm back for regular scans at either quarterly or annual intervals to check whether the aorta is getting bigger.
• Large aneurysm found
  If we find a large aneurysm this means that the aorta is much wider than normal. Only about 1 in 100 men who are screened have a large aneurysm. We give men with a large aneurysm an appointment with a specialist team to have more scans and to talk about possible treatment, usually an operation.