North Texas Research Forum 2024
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Division
North Texas
Hospital
Medical City Arlington
Specialty
Internal Medicine
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
2024
Keywords
Quality Improvement, abdominal aortic aneurysm, AAA, screening
Disciplines
Cardiovascular Diseases | Internal Medicine | Medicine and Health Sciences | Quality Improvement
Abstract
Introduction: An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is typically defined as aortic enlargement with a diameter of 3.0 cm or larger. The prevalence of AAA has declined over the past 2 decades among screened men 65 years or older in various European countries. The current prevalence of AAA in the United States is unclear because of the low uptake of screening. This QI project will involve MCA residents and Grand Prairie clinic attending to incorporate screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm guidelines used by USPSTF and attempt to encourage all our established and new patients who fit into the criteria for screening to be screened for AAA. Methods: Baseline metrics for one-time screening for AAA in males aged 65-75 who are current or previous smokers were collected for the months of November 2022 to March 2024. This QI project will involve MCA residents and Grand Prairie clinic attending to incorporate screening via ultrasonography for abdominal aortic aneurysm guidelines used by USPSTF and attempt to encourage all our established and new patients who fit into the criteria for screening to be screened for AAA. Education will be given to all residents on why screening for AAA is important and complications that can arise from not undergoing screening. We developed a specific template on eClinicalWorks which will indicate the criteria of: current or previous smoker, age 65-75 years, and previously screened for AAA with ultrasound. There are posters in examination rooms. Resident training on missed one-time screening for AAA screening opportunities will occur over one-month time frame. Results: Before the beginning of this QI project, our Grand Prairie Clinic did not incorporate screening for AAA. From the months of November 22-April 2023 we saw a 10% increase. From May 2023 – October 2023 we saw 25% increase. November 2023 – December 2023 we have seen a 30% increase. Conclusion: Most AAAs are asymptomatic until they rupture. Although the risk for rupture varies greatly by aneurysm size, the associated risk for death with rupture is as high as 81%. This screening strategy at our clinic has contributed to this early diagnosis and prevention.
Original Publisher
HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education
Recommended Citation
Patel, Riddhi H. and Ford, Danielle, "Improving the Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm at Grand Prairie Internal Medicine Clinic " (2024). North Texas Research Forum 2024. 50.
https://scholarlycommons.hcahealthcare.com/northtexas2024/50