Aneurysm Outreach Inc. (AOI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Tax Identification No. 72-1455117, located in Prairieville, Louisiana that is dedicated to mobilizing people and resources to eradicate aneurysms. It was founded in September 1999 by Sheila Arrington, a Prairieville native, and is a result of three major events in her life. Sheila’s 58-year old father’s death from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm was the first event. Additional details can be found under Our Organization/Background and Goals.

AOI wishes to raise public and physician awareness of the threat of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA – pronounced “Triple A”) and other aneurysms. An aneurysm is ballooning in the wall of a weakened blood vessel. Although aneurysms can occur anywhere in the body, abdominal aortic aneurysms are the most common. They expand slowly over many years and are classified as “silent killers” because there are typically no symptoms until rupture occurs. Abdominal aortic aneurysm is the 13th leading cause of death in the United States and the 3rd leading cause of sudden death for U.S. males. Early detection is critical because 75-90% of patients who experience a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm will die.

Since people want to believe that “no news is good news” when it comes to health issues, AOI must alert an unaware and, in many instances, resisting public about the threat of aneurysms – especially the fact that many are familial. Currently, at least 20% of all aortic aneurysm patients have been found to have other family members affected. AOI wishes to stimulate and fund genetic research through advocacy and charitable donations and to coordinate a support network for those affected or at risk and their families.

Aneurysm Outreach Inc. was recognized in an August 2001 editorial in Cardiovascular Surgery, an international journal for vascular surgeons, as a one-of-a-kind charity in the aortic aneurysm field - a long overdue entity to consolidate efforts. This editorial can be viewed by clicking here or from the menu to the left under "News Updates and Events/Aneurysm Outreach Inc. News". AOI has established Connections/Partnerships with both AAA and brain aneurysm researchers throughout the U.S. and is currently assisting with educational information and physician contact information around the world via this web site. There is also a Frequently Asked Questions section regarding AAA as well as brain aneurysm at this web site. Web site visitors will also discover a Guest Registry and Research Support Questionnaire.

On a local level, through the support of CVT Surgical Center, Vascular Surgery Associates/Vascular Associates Laboratory, and The Advocate Newspaper, Aneurysm Outreach Inc. established a free, quarterly ultrasound-screening program for AAA in the Baton Rouge area. AOI solicits additional support from the business community for these events that are intended to create awareness about aneurysms and save lives.

The screening program began in 2001 when Representative John C. "Juba" Diez of Ascension Parish had September designated as "Aneurysm Awareness Month in Louisiana" through Legislative Resolution No. 183. The program has had very measurable results; abdominal aortic aneurysms have been discovered at all standard screenings. Over 3.2% of just over 5,000 eligible participants screened were found to have expanding aortas or AAA.

Primary risk factors are considered to be family history, hypertension, smoking (smokers have an almost eight times higher risk than non-smokers), high cholesterol, age over 60 and being of male gender.

Screenings are offered to anyone over 60 years of age on a once every 5-6 year basis and also to men and women over 55 who have a family history of aortic aneurysms. General information (name, address, phone number, and date of birth, etc.) is typically gathered during the telephone sign-up process. Each participant is mailed a confirming letter along with a screening form that includes a release of liability, a brief medical history questionnaire regarding AAA risk factors and a results section. All participants leave the event with a copy of this form. Since participants are requested to have nothing by mouth for a minimum of eight hours prior to their screening, diabetics are assigned the earliest appointments and others are assigned appointments based on the order of their call. With experienced gained, our target number is now 288 participants using four ultrasound machines in a four hour period.

In 2004, SonoSite, Inc. of Bothell, Washington, presented an opportunity for outward expansion with the offer to furnish ultrasound equipment for AOI's AAA screening program. Thus far the expansion has included other Louisiana cities as well as Pensacola, Florida. AOI’s goal is to steadily gain experience as well as financial and staff support for a statewide and then national AAA screening campaign. Due to its unique status in the aortic aneurysm arena, AOI hopes to gain recognition for Louisiana as a humanitarian leader in this field.

Since smoking is such a strong risk factor for aneurysms, AOI joined the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Louisiana in March 2003.

Founder and President, Sheila Arrington, was quoted in the June 24, 2003 issue of The Wall Street Journal in an article entitled: Five Tests Worth Paying For.

Aneurysm Outreach Inc. wishes to advocate the inclusion of a "Family History of Aneurysms" block on all medical history intake forms. A check in the block would foster discussion between the physician and patient to determine what precautions are warranted and when these precautions are advisable. AOI also wishes to convince the medical community and insurance providers to incorporate ultrasound screening for AAA into their standard medical surveillance programs for those most at risk.

In November 2003, Sidley & Austin, a law firm in Washington, DC that represents the Society of Vascular Surgery, contacted Aneurysm Outreach Inc. AOI was asked to participate in the AAA Coalition SVS started (now called National Aneurysm Alliance) that advocated SAAAVE Act legislation which Congress passed in February 2006 for Medicare reimbursement of AAA screening expenses for individuals entering the Medicare system starting 2007. This legislation has the potential to save thousands of lives; Aneurysm Outreach wholeheartedly supports this endeavor.

A research paper on the results of AOI’s community-based free ultrasonography screening program that agrees with randomized controlled screening trials and emphasizes both the humanitarian and economical importance of finding individuals harboring AAAs prior to rupture was published in Annals of Vascular Surgery 2006 May;20(3):312-6. Epub 2006 Apr 27. Click here

The ultimate goal for Aneurysm Outreach Inc. is to fund genetic research in all aneurysm fields so that these silent killers can be eliminated. Additional information can be obtained by calling (225) 622-1577 or 622-2202.