Useful Management Information

  • Advance health directive  (where available)
  • AP and Transverse dimensions - Please note length of aneurysm is irrelevant
  • Atherosclerosis risk factor management (antihypertensive; diabetes, dyslipidemia)
  • It is strongly recommended that people who smoke stop before surgery as it increases the complicaitons of surgery and is associated with delayed skin healing. Please consider directing your patient to a smoking cessation program.
  • Where serial/follow-up >4.5 cm, 6-monthly surveillance USS is performed.
  • Where serial/follow-up <4.5 cm, 12-monthly surveillance USS is performed.
  • Any increase of 1cm or more within a 12-month period is an indicator for early referral.
  • Driving should cease if AAA is >5.0cm or the patient is considered at risk of dissection or rupture - Ausroads Assessing fitness to drive

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)
  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm >5.0cm AP or transverse diameter measurement (increasing size, tenderness)
  • Thoracic aneurysm >5.0cm transverse diameter measure (increasing size, tenderness)
  • Rapid AAA expansion (>1.0cm / year)
Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)
  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm 4.0-5.0 cm - transverse diameter measure
  • Thoracic aneurysm 4.0-5.0cm - transverse diameter measure
Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)
  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm <4.0cm - transverse diameter measure
  • Thoracic aneurysm <4.0cm - transverse diameter measure
  • If the patient does not meet the criteria for referral but the referring practitioner believes the patient requires specialist review, a clinical override may be requested:
    • Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
  • Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service.

Essential Referral Information

  • Genetic factors and collagen disorder
  • Significant co-morbidities
  • Cardiovascular assessment
  • Current aneurysm size, AP or transverse diameter measurement last 6 months (if known)
  • Vascular risk factors
  • U&E
  • FBC & coags
  • BSL
  • Lipid profile
  • CXR report
  • Abdominal USS

If a specific test result cannot be obtained due to access, financial, religious, cultural or consent reasons a clinical override may be requested. This reason must be clearly articulated in the body of the referral.

Additional Referral Information

  • Fine slice CT (if available) (patient to bring CD)
Last updated 16 July 2021

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Preferred Method
About Smart Referrals

Secure Web Transfer

Send to: Gold Coast Health Service District

Internal Referrals

Vascular Surgery (E-Blueslips)

Fax

(07) 5687 4497

Post

Booking and Referral Centre
Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215

Enquiries

1300 559 083

Related HealthPathways

No directly related pathways found

Service Availability

Dr Venu Bhamidi
Medical Director Vascular Surgery

Facilities

Gold Coast University Hospital
Robina Hospital

If you would like to send a named referral, please address it to the specialist listed above, who will allocate a suitably qualified specialist to see the patient. Alternatively, you can view a full list of our specialists.

Gold Coast Health - For Clinicians
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