Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

The value of abdominal examination in the diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm

Venkatasubramaniam, AK; Chetter, IC; McCollum, PT; Venkatasubramaniam, A.K; Mehta, T; Chetter, I.C; Bryce, J; Renwick, P; Johnson, B; Wilkinson, A; McCollum, P.T

Authors

AK Venkatasubramaniam

IC Chetter

PT McCollum

A.K Venkatasubramaniam

T Mehta

J Bryce

P Renwick

B Johnson

A Wilkinson

P.T McCollum



Abstract

Background. There is considerable variability in the reported value of clinical examination in the diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). This study aims to assess accuracy of abdominal examination by a doctor, a nurse and the patient in the diagnosis of AAA and whether this accuracy is related to the size of the aneurysm and/or the BMI of the patient. Methods. 164 patients, 138 men and 26 women, median age 71 years, consented to participate in this prospective, single blind, controlled study. Thirty-nine patients attending for carotid duplex were used as controls. Abdominal examination was performed by a doctor and a nurse. Patients then performed self-examination. Results. Examination by a doctor, a nurse and the patient were similar in accuracy in diagnosing/excluding AAA which was directly related to AAA size and patient BMI. The Negative Predicted Value of abdominal examination exceeds 0.9 with AAA diameters ≥ 4 cm and the Positive Predictive Value exceeds 0.8 with AAA diameters ≥ 5 cm. Conclusions. Abdominal examination by a doctor, a nurse and the patient is of value in the exclusion and diagnosis of significant AAA. It should be promoted and may represent a useful adjunct to population screening with ultrasound.

Citation

Venkatasubramaniam, A., Mehta, T., Chetter, I., Bryce, J., Renwick, P., Johnson, B., …McCollum, P. (2004). The value of abdominal examination in the diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm. European journal of vascular and endovascular surgery : the official journal of the European Society for Vascular Surgery, 27(1), 56-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejvs.2003.09.006

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 31, 2004
Publication Date 2004-01
Journal EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF VASCULAR AND ENDOVASCULAR SURGERY
Print ISSN 1078-5884
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 27
Issue 1
Pages 56-60
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejvs.2003.09.006
Keywords Surgery; Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/391542