학술논문
An assessment of between-recti distance and divarication in patients with and without abdominal aortic aneurysm
Document Type
Academic Journal
Author
Source
Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Oct 01, 2010 92(7):591-594
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
0035-8843
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The study assessed whether there is a greater incidence of divarication of the recti and whether between-recti distance is greater in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study consisted of two parts: a radiological and a clinical assessment. All patients with a confirmed AAA on computerised tomography were included and compared with patients in whom AAA was excluded with imaging. Between-recti distance was measured using a computerised image viewer and clinical divarication was assessed by a surgical registrar or consultant. RESULTS: In the radiological part of the study, 108 patients with AAA were compared with 84 with colorectal cancer. Median between-recti distance was 38 mm (range, 25-59 mm) in the AAA group and 27 mm (range, 20-44.5 mm) in the non-AAA group (P = 0.006). AAA diameter did not correlate with between-recti distance. The clinical study included 50 patients (25 AAA). The groups were well matched, with only a greater incidence of diabetes in the AAA group (20% vs 0%; P = 0.018). AAA patients were more likely to have clinically detected divarication of the recti (76% vs 36%; P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AAA have greater radiological and clinical evidence of divarication. It is suggested that patients with divarication be screened for AAA.