AAA mgmt. when unstable (hypotension)? - heifanami

[ArchivalUser]

Is it true that AAA mgmt (ex. pt presents with severe ab/back pain + hypotension) depends on whether the patient has a history of a previous AAA diagnosis or not?

Archer mentioned that in this scenario if A) the patient has a previous diagnosis of AAA that you can go straight to surgery. But if B) the patient doesn't have a previous diagnosis that you have do do a beside ultrasound (FAST) to diagnose it in 5-10 min, then you go surgery after the diagnosis.

Just wondering if that's how most of you guys approach it as well.

[ArchivalUser]

Its better to do fast regardless because you want to see if it meet requirements for surgery.. Even with postive history of AAA, if the aneurysm

[ArchivalUser]

isn't >5cm, you wouldn't want to operate on it

[ArchivalUser]

US is inferior to ct to detect bleedin AAA.
CT has to be done if unstable or low back pain