Journal of vascular surgery
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Abdominal duplex ultrasound screening for occult aortic aneurysm during carotid arterial evaluation.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of a modified abdominal ultrasound examination, which was performed at the time of routine diagnostic carotid artery duplex evaluation, to identify patients at risk for aortic aneurysms. ⋯ Hemodynamically significant carotid artery disease, as diagnosed by duplex examination, appears to be a definite marker for an increased incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysm when compared with the general population. When selective abdominal aortic ultrasonography is done in conjunction with the carotid study, the requirements of additional equipment and technologist time are modest, and the potential benefit to the patient may be significant.