Each year, more than 200,000 people are diagnosed with, and close to 15,000 people die from, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAAs). Despite these staggering numbers, many of those who do have Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms don’t even know that they exist.

AAA’s are described as a weakening and bulging of the aorta, the largest artery in the body, usually occurring in the abdominal portion of the artery. This can result in rupture, leading to profuse bleeding, shock, and possible death. They are the 15th leading cause of death in the United States, mostly among men older than 65, and particularly among those who have smoked.

“AAA’s are truly a silent killer. The majority of the time, abdominal aortic aneurysms are completely asymptomatic," said Dr. Gabor Winkler, Director of Vascular Surgery at Deborah Heart and Lung Center. “This is why it is so important to screen for them. Caught early, there are a number of treatment options, but if left untreated, a spontaneous rupture can be fatal in nine out of ten patients.”

Recently, Medicare expanded its preventive service benefits to qualify some senior citizens for free screenings to detect AAA’s. The screenings are available to men aged 65 to 75 who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime, men and women with a family history of AAAs, and any other individuals recommended for screening as part of their Welcome to Medicare physical.

Deborah Heart and Lung Center’s staff is fully trained in both traditional open repairs and the new, less-invasive stent graft techniques for repairing AAAs. In fact. the hospital was one of the first in the region to perform the stent-graft repair technique for aneurysms in the chest. which is becoming the standard.

Doctors at Deborah urge all of those who qualify for this procedure to take five minutes to have this screening. Patients do not need a referral or vascular surgeon visit to make an appointment; they can simply call 1-800-555-1990 for more information or 609-621-2080 to schedule an appointment.