Aortic Aneurysn Service
The aortic aneurysm service in Birmingham is one of the busiest in the United Kingdom and Europe. The aortic service covers the whole spectrum of the aortic disease including aorto-iliac aneurysms, infra-renal aneurysms, thoracic, thoraco-abdominal aneurysms and aortic dissection. We offer endovascular and open treatment options with collaboration with the cardiac surgery team at UHB.
We run a weekly one stop aortic clinic were patient assessment including CT, fitness assessment, vascular consultant anaesthetist review as well as a consultant aortic surgeon review is available.
Our patients are followed up using the latest protocol and equipment including contrast enhanced ultrasonography scans.
We participate in the national aortic screening program inviting all men for screening in the year they turn 65 and provide in house aneurysm surveillance for patients outside this program.
Which patients should be referred to this service?
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Referrals from the national aortic aneurysm screening program.
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Referrals from colleagues and centres nationally for patients with elective complex aneurysmal disease
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There is a weekly aortic meeting where all cases are evaluated and discussed.
When should another service be used?
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Patients with symptomatic/ruptured aneurysms should be sent to Heartlands Hospital Emergency Department and discussed with our on call team via switchboard
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Patients with possible/symptomatic aortic dissection should be sent to the nearest Emergency Department department and discussed with our on call team via switchboard
Small abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surveillance protocol
Who can make the referral?
We accept referrals from GPs, hospital specialists and other relevant health care professionals.
Further reading
Which patients should be referred to this service?
-
Referrals from the national aortic aneurysm screening program.
-
Referrals from colleagues and centres nationally for patients with elective complex aneurysmal disease
-
There is a weekly aortic meeting where all cases are evaluated and discussed.
-
Please send the aortic aneurysm referral form via Vascular RAS
When should another services be used?
-
Patients with symptomatic/ruptured aneurysms should be sent to Heartlands Hospital Emergency Department and discussed with our on call team via switchboard.
-
Patients with possible/symptomatic aortic dissection should be sent to the nearest Emergency Department and discussed with our on call team via switchboard.
-
Patients with aortic tortuosity which can be an expected finding on plain chest x-ray in patients 65 years or older . GP can arrange an echocardiogram to assess the aortic root / descending aorta.
Small abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surveillance protocol
Patients with aneurysm size less than 5.5 cm should be managed according the BVC Small abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surveillance protocol. Patients age, the size of the AAA measured on ultrasound scan (USS) and patients general health/fitness are the factors to be considered to assess benefit versus risk in offering the patients prophylactic AAA repair . The full details of the protocol can be found here.
Who can make the referral?
We accept referrals from GPs, hospital specialists and other relevant health care professionals.