Free screenings detect abdominal aortic aneurysms

Those entering the Medicare health care system who meet certain criteria are eligible for a free ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Rupture of these aneurysms is one of the leading causes of death among seniors in the United States, but death may be preventable when the aneurysms that cause them are detected early.

Ultrasound screening, a minimally invasive procedure, is part of the Welcome to Medicare physical for seniors who have certain risk factors and register within six months of joining Medicare.

When abdominal aortic aneurysms are detected, they can be treated either by open surgery or through a method called endovascular repair, in which a fabric stent graft is used to replace the blood flow in the area of the aneurysm.

Stent graft procedures have been shown to be as effective as open surgery, with fewer complications and a shorter recovery period.

The first step is for people with risk factors to undergo the free screening, which is available to men who have smoked at any time in their lives, and for men and women with a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

The aneurysms develop over time as a weakness in the wall of the aorta. It exists in an estimated 2 million Americans, with an estimated 15,000 seniors dying from ruptures each year.

Legislation passed last year included provisions of the SAAAVE Act (Screening Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Very Efficiently), which was sponsored in Congress by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., Rep. Ron Lewis, R-Ky., and Rep. Gene Green, D-Texas.

The act also was endorsed by the National Aneurysm Alliance, a group of medical professional organizations such as the Society for Vascular Surgery, as well as patient advocates, individuals and medical technology manufacturers.

To learn more about the screening and reducing the risk of abdominal aortic disease, Medicare recipients and others should consult their physician, or visit www.sunhealth.org or www.aneurx.com.