Aneurysm-ULTRA
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Aneurysm ULTRA (Ultrasound Triage in Ruptured AAAs): A diagnostic accuracy test feasibility study.
IRAS ID
158733
Contact name
Sam Hollingworth
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
St George's, University of London and St George's Healthcare NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a widening of the main blood vessel in the human body. The complication of greatest concern is rupture (bursting) which is most often fatal. There is currently a lack of research directed at attempting to improve the care of patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA) prior to their arrival to hospital. Misdiagnosis rates have been shown to be high and it is thought that delays in treatment can contribute to the high mortality rate associated with this condition.
The AortaScan device is a handheld ultrasound device that, when placed onto the abdomen of a patient at 4 separate locations, can identify and measure the size of the abdominal aorta. It was originally developed in the USA for screening of non-ruptured aneurysms and has not been tested in the emergency setting of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Before implementation in that setting can be tested directly (as a possible diagnostic or triage tool), there is a need to assess the device’s diagnostic accuracy and feasibility of use in patients who are presenting with symptoms that could suggest the presence of a rAAA.
The aim is to trial the device in patients over the age of 50 who present to an emergency department with undiagnosed abdominal pain/back pain/collapse.
If feasibility and diagnostic accuracy are acceptable, then the results of this study may justify a larger study targeting triage of suspected rAAAs in the field.
REC name
London - Dulwich Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/2067
Date of REC Opinion
16 Feb 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion