Guidance

Monitoring your small abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)

Updated 26 November 2025

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/monitoring-your-small-abdominal-aortic-aneurysm/your-screening-results-you-have-a-small-abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-aaa

This information is for anyone with a small abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening result.

Your AAA screening result

When we screened you, we found that your aorta is between 3.0 and 4.4cm wide. This is wider than usual and means you have a small AAA. AAAs can be different sizes:

  • small AAAs are 3.0cm to 4.4cm
  • medium AAAs are 4.5cm to 5.4cm
  • large AAAs are 5.5cm or bigger.

Around 1 in 80 men we screen has a small AAA. We will invite you back for an ultrasound scan every 12 months to see if it is getting bigger.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)

An AAA is a swelling in the aorta. The aorta is the artery that carries blood from the heart to the abdomen (tummy).

In some people, as they get older, the wall of the aorta in the abdomen can weaken. It can then start to swell (like a balloon), and form an aneurysm.

The condition is most common in men aged 65 and over.

Understanding your result

A small AAA is not serious and the risk of it bursting is very low. However, it is important to monitor the size of your AAA. This is in case it gets bigger and develops into a large AAA.

Large AAAs are rare but can be very serious. As the wall of the aorta stretches, it weakens and can burst, causing internal bleeding. If this happens, it is a medical emergency. Around 85 out of every 100 people with a burst AAA die as a result.

Most AAAs grow slowly, so you may never develop a large AAA that needs treatment.

Contact your local screening service if you have questions about your screening result.

What happens next

We will offer you an appointment with a specialist nurse. They can help answer any questions you have about your AAA and give you information and advice. This will include general health advice, which can help reduce the risk of your AAA growing. They may ask to check your blood pressure. We will invite you back for another scan in 12 months.

Your follow-up scans

We will continue to invite you for a scan every 12 months. However, if your AAA grows to 4.5cm, we will invite you for a scan every 3 months.

If your AAA grows to 5.5cm or wider, or by more than 1cm in 12 months, we will arrange an appointment for you with a specialist. The specialist will arrange more tests and talk to you about treatment options.

Why you don’t need an operation now

All operations have risks. The operation for an AAA is no different.

Research shows that surgery for a small AAA carries a higher risk than monitoring it. The NHS only offers surgery when the risk to your life from your aneurysm is more than the risk from surgery.

If your AAA grows, you may need surgery in the future. You can help reduce the risk of complications if you ever need surgery by:

  • stopping smoking, if you are a smoker – find more information at www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking
  • making sure your blood pressure is within safe limits
  • eating healthily
  • losing weight, if you are overweight
  • staying active every day to improve general fitness
  • cutting down on alcohol.

Symptoms to be aware of

AAAs usually have no symptoms. It is unlikely that you will feel any pain or discomfort from a small AAA.

If you have severe, lasting pain in your lower back or abdomen, you should seek urgent medical help. Call an ambulance or go to A&E straight away and tell them you have a small AAA.

Looking after your health

Your GP can give you advice on looking after your health. They may also want to give you medicine or review any prescribed medicine you already take.

If you go into hospital for any reason, you should let the staff know that you have an AAA found through screening.

You do not need to make any other changes to your lifestyle. You can continue with any sports or hobbies.

Telling close relatives

The risk of having an AAA increases if your biological brother, sister or parent has had one.

This means any of your brothers, sisters or children you have may be at risk too. They can ask their GP about the possibility of having a scan 5 years before they reach the age you were when your AAA was found.

Driving

Car drivers and motorcyclists with a small aneurysm can continue driving as normal. You must:

  • tell the DVLA if your AAA grows to 6cm or more
  • not drive if your AAA grows to 6.5cm or more but can drive again once it has been successfully treated.

Bus, coach and lorry drivers must:

  • tell the DVLA that you have an AAA, no matter what the size is
  • not drive if your AAA grows to 5.5cm or more but can drive again once it has been successfully treated.

Visit www.gov.uk/aneurysm-and-driving to find out more.

More information and support

You can get more information at:

We use personal information from your NHS records to invite you for screening at the right time. This information helps us improve the screening programmes and deliver quality care. Read more about how we use and protect your information.

Find out how to opt out of screening.

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