At what size would you consider an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) for repair?
- Generally, I would consider an asymptomatic AAA for repair when it is above 5.5cm in diameter, or if the AAA is larger than 4 cm and has grown by more than 1 cm over 12 months.
- Surgery may also be offered if the patient has symptoms linked to AAA, such as a pulsing sensation in their tummy or tummy pain that does not go away.
Further information:
- Patients with an AAA of less than 3 cm require no further follow-up.
- AAAs of 3 - 4.4 cm (classified as a Small AAA) require annual ultrasound imaging to monitor for further dilatation.
- AAAs of 4.5 - 5.4 cm (classified as a Medium AAA) should be evaluated by ultrasound every 3 months
- AAAs greater than 5.5 cm (classified as a Large AAA) should be referred to a vascular surgeon for consideration of repair.
- All symptomatic aneurysms should be considered for repair