OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to present a case of abdominal aortic aneurysm to illustrate its clinical detection through history and physical examination and the importance of this condition to the chiropractic clinical setting. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 74-year-old retired man consulted a doctor of chiropractic for chronic low back pain. The history and physical examination confirmed chronic sacroiliac and a lumbar facet dysfunction. After 5 weeks, the patient stated he had stomach cramps. After this, a more thorough abdominal examination was done. The doctor of chiropractic detected an enlarged pulsatile mass upon abdominal palpation. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: The patient was sent to the cardiologist and had successful surgery within weeks. CONCLUSION: An abdominal aortic aneurysm has specific symptoms and associated risk factors. If known risk factors are present, a clinical examination needs to be carried out, even though sensitivity of the clinical examination may be low. It should be a differential diagnosis in every male patient older than 50 years with low back pain. In case of suspicion, the patient should be referred for advanced imaging.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to present a case of abdominal aortic aneurysm to illustrate its clinical detection through history and physical examination and the importance of this condition to the chiropractic clinical setting. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 74-year-old retired man consulted a doctor of chiropractic for chronic low back pain. The history and physical examination confirmed chronic sacroiliac and a lumbar facet dysfunction. After 5 weeks, the patient stated he had stomach cramps. After this, a more thorough abdominal examination was done. The doctor of chiropractic detected an enlarged pulsatile mass upon abdominal palpation. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: The patient was sent to the cardiologist and had successful surgery within weeks. CONCLUSION: An abdominal aortic aneurysm has specific symptoms and associated risk factors. If known risk factors are present, a clinical examination needs to be carried out, even though sensitivity of the clinical examination may be low. It should be a differential diagnosis in every male patient older than 50 years with low back pain. In case of suspicion, the patient should be referred for advanced imaging.
Entities:
Keywords:
Aortic aneurysm, Abdominal; Chiropractic; Diagnosis; Low back pain
Authors: F A Lederle; G R Johnson; S E Wilson; E P Chute; R J Hye; M S Makaroun; G W Barone; D Bandyk; G L Moneta; R G Makhoul Journal: Arch Intern Med Date: 2000-05-22
Authors: Helena Kuivaniemi; Hidenori Shibamura; Claudette Arthur; Ramon Berguer; C William Cole; Tatu Juvonen; Ronald A Kline; Raymond Limet; Gerry Mackean; Orjan Norrgård; Gerard Pals; Janet T Powell; Pekka Rainio; Natzi Sakalihasan; Clarissa van Vlijmen-van Keulen; Alain Verloes; Gerard Tromp Journal: J Vasc Surg Date: 2003-02 Impact factor: 4.268
Authors: Anthony R Brady; Simon G Thompson; F Gerald R Fowkes; Roger M Greenhalgh; Janet T Powell Journal: Circulation Date: 2004-06-21 Impact factor: 29.690