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This page contains information on how to refer patients aged 16 years and over to Vascular Surgery specialist outpatient services at Mater Hospital Brisbane.
Catchment criteria applies for referrals for this service. Patient referrals from outside the Mater SEQ Catchment (which includes Metro South and West Moreton Hospital and Health Services) may not be accepted.
Mater Vascular Surgery treats a full range of vascular and related conditions, including aneurysm, carotid and peripheral vascular diseases, high risk diabetic foot disease (in a multi-disciplinary team setting), venous and lower limb ulcerative diseases and other vascular conditions. Mater has an efficient, high quality vascular service that uses both endovascular and open operative management where appropriate. We have expertise in wound care and we partner with community nursing and patients effectively. Where suitable we use Telemedicine to make consultation easier for distant and nursing home patients.
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this) General referral information Gentic 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 results, BSL Lipid profile CXR report Abdominal USS Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral) Fine slice CT (if available) (patient to bring CD) Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list) Refer to Healthpathways or local guidelines Advance health directive (where available) AP and Transverse dimensions - Please note length of aneurysm is irrelevant Atherosclerosis risk factor management (antihypertensive; diabetes, dyslipidaemia) It is strongly recommended that people who smoke stop before surgery as it increases the complications of surgery and is associated with delayed skin healing.Please consider directing your patient to a smoking cessation program. Where serial/follow-up >3.5cm-5cm, 6-monthly surveillance USS is performed. Where serial/follow-up <3.5cm, 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 Categorisation Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)
Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)
Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)
Categorisation
Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Category 1 – urgent
Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days
Category 2 - Priority
Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days
Category 3 - Routine
Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 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)
Abdominal aortic aneurysm 4.0-5.0 cm - transverse diameter measure
Thoracic aneurysm 4.0-5.0cm - transverse diameter measure
Abdominal aortic aneurysm <4.0cm - transverse diameter measure
Thoracic aneurysm <4.0cm - transverse diameter measure
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this) General Referral Information Clinical history History of TIAs (localising, amaurosis fugax) or stroke History of risk factors and management Type/location/timing of symptoms (contralateral sensory/motor, monocular visual change) Cardiovascular assessment USS, duplex scan (carotid artery) results BSL Lipid profile U&E FBC & coags Homocysteine level (HbA1C if diabetic) Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral) No additional information Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list) Refer to Healthpathways or local guidelines Advance health directive (where available) Atherosclerosis risk factor management (antihypertensive; diabetes, dyslipidaemia) Lifestyle modification (Increased activity, dietary, weight, smoking, alcohol) It is strongly recommended that people who smoke stop before surgery as it increases the complications of surgery and is associated with delayed skin healing. Please consider directing your patient to a smoking cessation program. Commence anti-platelet agent aspirin (clopidogrel if there is allergy or other contraindication to aspirin) Active cholesterol and blood pressure lowering (if appropriate) Categorisation Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Category 1 – Urgent
Isolated TIA/stroke, amaurosis fugax
Symptomatic internal carotid stenosis of >50% on imaging
Symptomatic occluded internal carotid
Asymptomatic internal carotid stenosis of >80% on imaging
Symptomatic <50% internal carotid stenosis
Symptomatic subclavian steal syndrome
Asymptomatic occluded internal carotid
Carotid body tumour
Asymptomatic carotid stenosis of between 50-79% on imaging
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this) General referral information Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral) USS report (optional) Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list) Advance health directive (where available) Statewide renal access surgery: dialysis access referral form Refer to Healthpathways or local guidelines Categorisation Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
A patient with a catheter insitu for dialysis who is awaiting an AVF formation
A patient currently on haemodialysis who has a failing AVF
Renal access referral prioritisation score >8
statewide renal access surgery: dialysis access referral form
Renal access referral prioritisation score 5-8
Renal access referral prioritisation score <5
At the Mater Hospital Brisbane, High Risk foot is managed by The Queensland Diabetes and Endocrine Centre (QDEC). Please refer to their page for referral guidelines and naming specialist.
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this) General Referral Information History including incapacitating claudication distance rest pain ischaemic changes Peripheral pulses: femoral/popliteal/foot Risk factors particularly smoking and diabetes Recent cardiac tests, including stress test results Duplex USS scan results (Cat 1 case only) U&E FBC & coags, BSL Lipid profile Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral) Homocysteine level (HbA1C if diabetic) Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list) Refer to Healthpathways or local guidelines Advance health directive (where available) Diabetic foot ulcer: High-risk foot clinic (referral via podiatry and access via telehealth available – Statewide Diabetes Clinical Network will provide details) Asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease especially tibial artery stenosis or occlusion when the foot is healthy and the symptoms are proximal to the lesions in non-diabetic patients, do not warrant referral and can be managed conservatively with risk factor modification and exercise therapy. Other causes for the more proximal leg pain should be sought. Atherosclerosis risk factor management (antihypertensive; diabetes, dyslipidaemia) Lifestyle modification (Increased activity, dietary, weight, smoking, alcohol) Claudication with no impact on quality of life should be managed conservatively with risk factor control, graduate exercise therapy and anti-platelets Categorisation Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Refer directly to emergency if clinically indicated:
Claudication <50m
Peripheral aneurysm above the treatment threshold
Intermittent claudication with no signs of limb-threatening ischaemia >50m
Asymptomatic peripheral aneurysms below the treatment threshold
Significant impact on quality of life
Asymptomatic upper limb arterial disease
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this) General Referral Information History and examination findings in particular commenting on: bleeding venous ulcer venous ulcer thrombophlebitis DVT lipodermatosclerosis varicose eczema previous surgery details how varicose veins limit activity (executing activities) and participation restrictions (involvement in life situations) e.g. standing long periods at work. Conservative measures trialled If peripheral arterial disease, please indicate if ulcers or ischaemic rest pain. U&E FBC results If history of DVT: ensure hypercoagulable screen and coag results Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral) USS mapping of varicose veins Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list) Refer to Healthpathways or local guidelines Consider referral to occupational therapy outpatients for compression garments Patient information - Victoria State Government, BetterHealth Channel, Varicose veins and spider veins Patient information from NIH - NIH, MedlinePlus, Varicose veins and venous insufficiency Deep vein thrombosis and air travel - Department of Health, Deep vein thrombosis and air travel DVT prophylaxis - Best Practice Guidelines for Australia & New Zealand, VTE Guidelines Categorisation Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Haemorrhage from varicose veins
Venous ulcer
Acute thrombophlebitis (clexane for 6 weeks)
Lipodermatosclerosis
Symptomatic varicose veins excluding cosmesis (Spider/cosmetic vein)
Chronic DVT
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this) General referral information Relevant condition information Relevant pathology and imaging reports Categorisation
If referral for care is indicated please list all of the General Referral Information, reason for request, and essential information as indicated below.
Referrals can be sent by:
Digital referrals in your practice software that include templates linked with referral criteria for quality handover for any public hospital
Cloud solution in your practice software that eliminates the need for template management
Medical Objects: HM4101000R8
HealthLink EDI: materref
For fax and secure messaging our latest Mater Adult Referral Form or Antenatal Form are available to embed into most major Practice Management software systems.
Mater Health offers patients the opportunity to attend bulk billed clinics. To provide your patient with the opportunity to attend a bulk billed clinic, please provide a named referral to one of the specialists listed above.
If you would like to discuss a referral, including clinical criteria, or update the status of a current patient please contact our priority GP phone line on 07 3163 2200
We provide up to date data on how long patients are waiting for their first appointment by specialty here.
These Mater Referral Guidelines align with standardised best practice tools for referral to publicly funded specialist outpatient services developed in Queensland through the Clinical Prioritisation Criteria project.
Content last reviewed: 13 December 2023
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