An assessment of between-recti distance and divarication in patients with and without abdominal aortic aneurysm.

INTRODUCTION: The study assessed whether there is a greater incidence of divarication of the recti and whether between-recti distance is greater in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study consisted of two parts: a radiological and a clinical assessment. All patients with a confirmed AAA on computerised tomography were included and compared with patients in whom AAA was excluded with imaging. Between-recti distance was measured using a computerised image viewer and clinical divarication was assessed by a surgical registrar or consultant. RESULTS: In the radiological part of the study, 108 patients with AAA were compared with 84 with colorectal cancer. Median between-recti distance was 38 mm (range, 25-59 mm) in the AAA group and 27 mm (range, 20-44.5 mm) in the non-AAA group (P=0.006). AAA diameter did not correlate with between-recti distance. The clinical study included 50 patients (25 AAA). The groups were well matched, with only a greater incidence of diabetes in the AAA group (20% vs 0%; P=0.018). AAA patients were more likely to have clinically detected divarication of the recti (76% vs 36%; P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AAA have greater radiological and clinical evidence of divarication. It is suggested that patients with divarication be screened for AAA.