Background.– Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) remains asymptomatic for many years but often revealed dramatically (inaugural rupture). Its relatively low prevalence in the general population (5.5% of men over 65 years) implies specific target population screening. Patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) represent a high-risk population in which screening for other atherosclerotic locations is recommended but is still often neglected. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of AAA screening during routine transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in patients with AMI using a portable echocardiography system and to determine the prevalence of AAA in this population.

Methods.– We prospectively measured the size of the abdominal aorta at the end of a regular TTE performed at bedside in consecutive patients admitted for AMI in our intensive care unit using a portable TTE system (Vividi, General electric). AAA was defined by a transverse diameter ≥ 30 mm.

Results.– One hundred and fifty-two patients were enrolled (mean age 65 ± 14 years old, 78% of male). Measurement of the size of the abdominal aorta was feasible in 93% (10 patients had poor echogenicity) and time duration was 3 ± 1 minute. Interobserver variability between cardiologists was good (1.7 ± 1 mm). Eight patients had an AAA (5.2%) and prevalence increases with age, 8.7% after 60 years, 10.3% after 65 years. No patient below 50 years old had an AAA.

Conclusion.– In patients admitted for AMI, screening for AAA during TTE using a portable TTE system was fast and highly feasible. Despite a striking low prevalence of AAA in this high cardiovascular risk population, analyse of the abdominal aorta should be recommended during TTE (“one cardiovascular shot”) especially in elderly patients in regard to the simplicity, inocuity and availability of the present screening.