Phone: 01782 674356

Email: screening.aaa@nhs.net​

Address

Royal Stoke University Hospital

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust

Newcastle Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 6QG

How are men invited for screening?

Men in their 65^th year who are eligible for screening are sent an invitation letter around three weeks before their appointment. They are given a date, time and venue for their scan and an information leaflet. Invitations are sent from their local screening office at The Royal Stoke hospital containing full details about attending for screening, the test and the possible results. If the time, date or venue is inconvenient men can reschedule their appointment. We try to make the appointment at a venue close to where you live.

Why do we screen?

If you have an aneurysm you will not generally notice any symptoms. This means that you cannot tell if you have one as you will not feel any pain or notice anything different. We offer screening so we can find aneurysms early and monitor or treat them. This greatly reduces the chances of the aneurysm causing serious problems. The easiest way to find out if you have an aneurysm is to have an ultrasound scan of your abdomen.

Who do we screen?

If you are a man aged over 65 you are more likely to have an abdominal aortic aneurysm. That is why the NHS AAA screening programme invites men for screening during the year they turn 65.
Men over 65 who have not previously been diagnosed with an aneurysm can request a scan by contacting their local programme directly.

What about men over 65?

Men only need one scan during the year in which they turn 65 to screen for AAA. Men who receive a normal result do not need follow-up scans. Men over 65 who have not previously been screened or diagnosed with an aneurysm can self refer directly to the programme by contacting us on 01782 674356 or at screening.aaa@nhs.net

What about men under 65?

The programme targets men aged 65 and over because 95 per cent of ruptured AAA occur in this group. There is no evidence to show that inviting men who are younger than 65 for screening as part of a population-based screening programme would deliver major benefits.

Why aren't women screened?

The programme targets men aged 65 and over because 95 per cent of ruptured AAA occur in this group. Men are six times more likely to have an aneurysm than women. Ruptured AAA is less common in women and on average occurs ten years later than in men. Women who have a close relative - brother, sister or parent - who has, or has had, an abdominal aortic aneurysm can be scanned at an appropriate age under existing NHS procedures and should speak to their GP to discuss a referral.

Where do you screen?

The whole of the UK is now able to offer AAA screening. Your local program​is the Staffordshire & south Cheshire programme and covers the areas below:

North Staffordshire i​​ncluding:                        

• Stoke
• Longton
• Fenton
• Cobridge
• Biddulph
• Leek
• Cheadle
• Kidsgrove
• Audley
• Ashley
• Madeley
• Bentilee
• Hanley
• Tunstall
• Newcastle
• Talke
• Waterhouses

South Staffordshire including:

• Stone
• Stafford
• Rugeley
• Cannock
• Brewood
• Codsall
• Kinver
• Wombourne
• Hednesford
• Norton canes
• Eccleshall

South Cheshire including:

• Northwich
• Winsford
• Nantwich
• Crewe
• Alsager
• Sandbach
• Audlem
• Middlewich​

What if I live outside England?

The UK National Screening Committee makes UK-wide policies on screening. However, it is up to each part of the UK to determine when, and how, to put those policies into practice. This means there are some differences in the screening services available depending on whether you live in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Visit the UK National Screening Committee website for more information.

How many lives will the programme save?

It is estimated that the programme will reduce the death rate from ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms among men aged 65 and over by up to 50 per cent. 

How common is the condition?

It is estimated that around 1 in 70 men in England aged between 65 and 74 have an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Most of these are small and not serious. However, a small AAA (Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm) can increase in size and develop into a large AAA which is a serious condition.

What is the chance of dying from a rupture AAA?

If an AAA ruptures it is a surgical emergency as it can lead to serious blood loss. The death rate after rupture is about 80 per cent because many patients die before they reach hospital. The aim of the screening programme is to detect and treat large AAA early in order to reduce the number of deaths from rupture.

How reliable is the scan?

The scan used to find aneurysms is very reliable. No screening test can be completely effective, but it is very rare for a man who has had a normal result to develop a large aneurysm. Sometimes the person carrying out the scan will not be able to see the aorta clearly. This is nothing to worry about and they will ask you to have another scan, usually on a different day.

What if my family has a history of AAA?

The risk of developing an AAA increases through close family history. Both men and women who have a close relative - brother, sister or parent - who has, or has had, an AAA can receive an ultrasound scan at an appropriate age under existing NHS procedures and should speak to their GP to discuss a referral. First degree relatives of men with an AAA are advised to consider requesting a scan at an age five years younger than their relative was diagnosed. Close relatives of men with an AAA should take the usual health precautions of not smoking, having a cholesterol and blood pressure check and staying healthy.

What test is used to screen for AAA?

An ultrasound scan of the abdomen is used to look for an AAA - this is similar to the scan used in pregnancy to check how a baby is developing. The test is simple, quick and painless. The test is carried out by a sonographer or specially trained screening technician. 

What happens if the aorta cannot be seen?

Occasionally the screening technician cannot see the aorta or measure it accurately. This is nothing to worry about and the man is invited for a further scan.

What if I do not want to be screened?

Attending for AAA screening is a choice and there is no obligation to attend. If a man has considered the test and decided he does not wish to be screened he can contact us and ask to be removed from the list. 

What are the chances of having an aneurysm identified by screening?

It is estimated that for every 1000 men screened by the NHS AAA Screening Programme, fifteen will have an aneurysm, but only one will have a large aneurysm that may require treatment.

Here you'll find some leaflets with additional information on AAA screening that you may find useful.

AAA Invitation Leaflet - This leaflet is sent to all men invited for AAA screening appointments.

Making an informed choice - This information is to help men to decide if they would like to be screened for AAA

AAA Results leaflet - Monitoring your small aneurysm - This leaflet provides information for men who have had a small aneurysm found through AAA screening, which at this stage only needs to be monitored.

AAA Results leaflet - Monitoring your medium aneurysm - This leaflet provides information for men who have had a medium aneurysm found through AAA screening, which at this stage only needs to be monitored.

AAA Results leaflet  - Large aneurysm - This leaflet provides information for men who have had an aneurysm found through AAA screening who are referred for an assessment and possible treatment.

Information for Trans People - The leaflet is for trans (Transgender) and Non-Binary people in England to inform them of adult NHS screening programmes that are available. 

Easy Read Information - The NHS AAA Screening Programme is committed to ensuring screening is equally available to all eligible men. We have therefore developed​ Easy Read versions of the leaflets, audio versions and versions in other languages. These provide accessible information in a format that is particularly suitable for:

• People with learning disabilities
• People who find reading and writing hard
• People who do not speak English very well

You may find more information not covered here at http://aaa.screening.nhs.uk/leaflets2016

To change your screening appointment, contact us on 01782 674356

We encourage all men to attend AAA screening when invited although we would respect your decision not to be screened.

If you choose not to take up your invitation please contact us using the number above so the appointment can be given to another patient. If you change your mind at any point in the future please contact us and we will be happy to make you another appointment.

What to do if you have concerns abou​t your abdominal aorta.

If you have any concerns about your abdominal aorta, or you have a brother, sister or parent who has had an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm then you should visit you GP. Your GP will be able to give you more information and refer you for tests if required.

What to expect at your screenin​g appointment

Screening involves a simple, pain-free, non-invasive test called an ultrasound scan to look for an aneurysm. The test is very quick, usually takes less than 10 minutes and you won't need to undress for it. The scan will show a picture of the aorta on a screen and we will be able to measure it. It is very similar to the scan in pregnancy to look at the baby.

Your results

We will usually be able to tell you your result straight away. We will also send a copy of the result to your GP.

There are four possible results from the scan:

1. No aneurysm found - If your aorta is less than 3cm wide, this means you do not have an aneurysm. Most men have this result. No treatment or monitoring is needed afterwards. We will not invite you for AAA screening again.
    
2. Small aneurysm found - If we find a small aneurysm this means that the aorta is a little wider than normal– between 3.0cm and 4.4cm wide. We invite men with a small aneurysm back for regular scans every year to check that the aorta is not getting bigger. A Nurse Practitioner will also give you advice about your general health and aneurysm.

   If growth of 1cm in a year is noted, then an appointment with a specialist team to have more scans and to talk about possible treatment options, will be provided. 

3. Medium aneurysm found - If we find a medium aneurysm this means that the aorta is a fairly wider than normal– between 4.5cm and 5.4cm wide. We invite men with a medium aneurysm back for regular scans every 3 months to check that the aorta is not getting bigger. A Nurse Practitioner will also give you advice about your general health and aneurysm.
    
4. Large aneurysm found - If we find a large aneurysm this means that the aorta is much wider than normal. Only a very small number of men have this result. We give men with a large aneurysm an appointment with a specialist team to have more scans and to talk about possible treatment options, usually an operation.

NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme: deciding whether to be screened

This information sheet is for men aged 65 and over. It is to help you decide if you want to get screened for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

An AAA is formed when the main blood vessel in the body weakens and starts to expand. As they expand, large AAAs can burst. This is a medical emergency that is fatal in around 80 out of every 100 cases.

Men aged 65 and over are most at risk of AAA. The NHS AAA Screening Programme invites men in England for screening during the year they turn 65. Men over 65 can contact the programme to arrange to be screened.

Research shows screening should prevent around 2,000 premature deaths from ruptured AAA every year through early detection, appropriate monitoring and treatment.

Your choice

Screening is a choice. There are 2 options for men aged 65 and over. You can:

• Attend screening
• Decline screening

All screening involves a balance of benefits and risks. See the back of this information sheet for information about the potential benefits and risks of both options.

Here are some questions you may want to consider before deciding whether to be screened for abdominal aortic aneurysm:

Would you want to know if you had an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
Would you be willing to have major surgery if screening showed that you had a large abdominal aortic aneurysm that could be repaired?

Possible results

No aneurysm found: About 985 out of every 1,000 men screened are reassured that no aneurysm has been found and are not offered any further tests.

Aneurysm detected: About 15 out of every 1,000 men screened have an aneurysm and are either invited back for regular tests or given an appointment with a surgeon to discuss treatment options.

Find out more at www.nhs.uk/aaa

Public Health England (PHE) created this information on behalf of the NHS

Potential risks and benefits of AAA screening

Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening: invitation leaflet - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)