The evaluation of aortic diameter using ultrasonography in the patients with abdominal pain in emergency department

Aim: Scanning the patients consulting the emergency department with abdominal pain for abdominal aortic aneurysm is important for early diagnosis and reduction in mortality. In our study, abdominal aortic diameter of patients aged at least 50, consulting emergency department for abdominal pain and having risk factors such as hypertension, atherosclerosis and smoking history were measured with ultrasonography, and these patients were evaluated for the frequency of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Thus, it was targeted to determine the contribution of aortic diameter measurement on emergency practice and its place in emergency diagnosis and treatment.Material and Method: In our prospective study, abdominal aortic diameters of 115 patients who admitted to Cukurova University Medical School Department of Emergency between June 2010 and October 2011 having at least one of the abdominal aortic aneurysm risk factors such as hypertension, atherosclerosis and smoking history were evaluated with ultrasonography. Abdominal aortic diameters were recorded after an evaluation in three levels with ultrasonography; celiac-superior mesenteric artery level, mid-line and bifurcation level. Demographic data, abdominal aortic aneurysm risk factors and additional diseases of the patients were recorded and analyzed.Findings: 60 (52,2 %) male and 22 (47,8 %) female, total 115 patients aged between 50 and 84 (mean age 66,9 ± 9,1) were included in the study. Abdominal aortic aneurysm was reported in 8 (7 %) cases. The patients with aneurysms have a mean age of 74,4 ± 7,8; while the patients without aneurysms have a mean age of 63,3 ± 9,0. Thus, it has been determined that the increasing patient age is a risk factor for developing aneurysms (p = 0.0015). The likelihood to have aneurysms is 11,3 times greater in smoking patients than non-smoking patients. 8 (100 %) of the patients with a detected aneurysm were male. It has been determined that male gender is a risk factor for abdominal aneurysm.Conclusion: It should be remembered that ultrasonography in emergency departments is a rapid and reliable tool for diagnosis to rule out abdominal aortic aneurysm in patients especially elderly (over 60), smoking and male patients consulting the emergency department with abdominal pain. With bed side ultrasonography, early diagnosis and treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm in emergency departments may decline the deaths related to abdominal aortic aneurysm.Keywords: Abdominal aortic aneurism, abdominal pain, emergency ultrasonography, risk factors