Smokers Now Offered Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening

Sorry my friends, I have been offline for a few weeks with the flu.  Well, I am back at the helm again with some more shocking news.  Smokers are at risk of arterial disease.  Specifically, abdominal aortic aneurysms.  We have known about this for years.  Smoking does nothing good for you.  The interesting thing is that many states in the USA are making POT legal.  POT has more heart stopping ingredients than tobacco.  Well the US government is stepping out once again to limit the use of tobacco products while condoning the use of POT.  We Sonographers have long looked for triple A's in our practice.  We love to find them before they bust.  There is a CPT code for the screening.  I look for them on any routine belly exam.  Most liberals would like to to see tobacco crops destroyed, unless you are Al Gore.

Message to Sonographers?  Look for those triple A's  Here is a link to an article

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is recommending routine one-time screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in men aged 65 to 75 years who have ever smoked in updated draft guidelines published online in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Clinicians should offer selective screening on a case-by-case basis for men in the same age group who have ever smoked, the draft guidelines state. If finalized, the recommendations will replace previous USPSTF guidance on the topic from 2005.e.


http://www.clinicaladvisor.com/offer-aaa-screening-to-older-male-smokers/article/331470/

Thanks Clinical Advisor