Aortic Aneurysm Prediction Program

There is currently development of a software program at Carnegie Mellon University which will be able to predict which patients are at risk for aortic aneurysms. The program will examine DCT scans and MRI images of the patient to look at blood flow patterns and the shape and thickness of the aorta. Using this information the program will determine if the aneurysm is likely to rupture. This will help the doctor determine which patients need immediate surgery and which ones are fine. Currently, doctors make this decision based on just size of the aneurysm. If the aneurysm is 1 to 5 centimeters then it is considered high risk and the patient will have to undergo surgery. Doctors believe in this method because size is a good determinant but it’s not always perfect. Small aneurysms can rupture too and not all large aneurysms rupture. This new software program would be more personalized. It is more specific to the patient and more accurate at determining their personal risk. It can eliminate unnecessary surgeries for patients not at risk. It can also save the lives of the high risk patients by getting them into surgery before an aortic aneurysm happens.

I found this article interesting because a prediction program is a great asset for doctors. It saves time, money, and lives. It is much better than the current method because it determines the patient’s individual risk not just the general risk of that particular sized aneurysm.

Source: http://www.ivanhoe.com/science/story/2010/12/798a.html