HN Summary

• Ontario has launched Canada’s first abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening program, led by vascular surgeon Dr. Varun Kapila, enabling early detection of a condition that is often fatal when discovered after rupture.

• Eligible Ontarians aged 65–80 will receive access to a free, 10-minute ultrasound, shifting care from emergency intervention to planned, minimally invasive treatment and significantly improving survival.

• The program reflects province-wide collaboration and evidence-based design, drawing on national guidelines, cost-benefit research, and integration across primary care, diagnostic imaging, and Ontario’s 21 designated vascular centres.

Vascular surgeons, like Dr. Varun Kapila of William Osler Health System (Osler), manage countless emergencies every year, but the most concerning, he says, are patients who arrive with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), a dangerous bulge in the wall of the body’s largest blood vessel. 

“As many as 80-90 per cent of patients who present with this type of rupture will die,” said Dr. Kapila, Ontario Health’s Provincial Lead for Vascular Care, and a key leader behind the launch of the Ontario Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Program. The program is the first of its kind in Canada.

“Abdominal aortic aneurysms affect about 20,000 Canadians each year, but if we can find them before they rupture, vascular surgeons can transition from crisis care to planned care, and most importantly, save lives.” 

Dr. Kapila, who has also been the Associate Medical Director for CritiCall Ontario (Ornge) since 2023 and is the Past-President of the Canadian Society of Vascular Surgery, has championed AAA screening since assuming his provincial role three years ago and credits collaboration as vital to success.

“With strategic investment by the Ministry of Health and strong partnerships in primary care, diagnostic services, vascular health and epidemiological research, as well as people with lived AAA experience, Ontarians aged 65 to 80 will now have access to a free, 10-minute ultrasound and within minutes they’ll know whether they are at risk. A clear result means no need for a repeat ultrasound.”

Program development drew on best practices from the Ontario Breast Screening Program, national guidelines on AAA screening published in 2021, and a 2024 cost-benefit study of AAA screening published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in 2024 – both co-authored by Dr. Kapila.

The screening program was announced in September 2025 and Ontario Health shortly after began sending letters to Ontarians on their 65th birthday inviting them to contact their primary care provider for an ultrasound requisition. Distribution will expand to all Ontarians aged 65 to 80 in 2026, and those identified as at risk will be referred to one of Ontario’s 21 Designated Vascular programs, which include expert vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists.

“If we can find aneurysms early, we can perform minimally invasive procedures using local anaesthetic and no incisions, where patients are often in hospital for less than 24 hours.” said Dr. Kapila.

Osler’s Vascular Program is among the Designated Provincial Vascular programs in the province. 

“The catchment area we serve at Osler has high rates of diabetes, hypertension, kidney failure, and heart disease, making it a hot spot for peripheral arterial disease, coronary heart disease, and vascular diseases like aneurysms,” said Dr. Kapila. “This screening program will have real impact here, and thanks to investments in vascular care, patients will have access to 24/7 world-class endovascular care close to home.”

Dr. Kapila also praised Osler colleagues Dr. Hussein Jaffer, Physician Lead, Interventional Radiology, and Dr. William Johnson, Division Head for Vascular Surgery, who co-lead the Vascular Program and are nationally recognized in their fields. “Dr. Jaffer and Dr. Johnson are a prime example of what can be achieved when we break down departmental siloes and share expertise to drive innovative approaches to care.”

Now that the AAA screening program has launched, Dr. Kapila hopes its impact will inspire similar initiatives across Canada and support deeper integration between primary care, diagnostic imaging and vascular services. 

“This is one of the most important advancements in the vascular sphere in my 13 years as a surgeon and has the potential to save so many lives, particularly if adopted further.”