Aortic disease
Emergency department referrals
Phone on call Cardiology Registrar via:
- Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital switch - (07) 3646 8111
- The Prince Charles Hospital switch - (07) 3139 4000
- Redcliffe Hospital switch – (07) 3883 7777
- Caboolture Hospital switch – (07) 5433 8888
and send patient to the Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) at their nearest hospital.
If any of the following are present or suspected, refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.
- Suspected chest pain within 24 hours that is associated with any of the following concerning features:
- Severe or ongoing chest pain
- Ischemic chest pain lasting ten minutes or more
- Recurrent chest pain that is new at rest or occurring with minimal activity
- Chest pain accompanied by severe dyspnoea
- Chest pain associated with any of the following clinical signs:
- syncope / pre-syncope
- respiratory rate > 30 breaths per minute
- tachycardia >120 bpm
- systolic BP < 90mmHg
- heart failure / suspected pulmonary oedema
- ST elevation or depression
- complete heart block
- new left bundle branch block
Does your patient wish to be referred?
Minimum referral criteria
Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1
Appointment within 30 days is desirable
- Severely dilated aorta/aortic root – either indexed to BSA* or >55mm (50mm for aortic root)
- Dilated aorta with evidence of severe aortic regurgitation (this would already be cat 1 given above)
*BSA index [Aortic Root Diameter Calculator, or preferred Australasian source]
Category 2
Appointment within 90 days is desirable
- Dilated aorta, not meeting criteria for severe,
- With bicuspid aortic valve
- Family history of aortic dissection or aortic disease
- Confirmed genetic cause of aortopathy
- Known dilated aorta with >5mm increase in diameter in past 12mths (but not severely dilated)
Category 3
Appointment within 365 days is desirable
- Dilated aorta not otherwise specified
If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria
Consider other treatment pathways or an alternative diagnosis.
If you still need to refer your patient:
- 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
Other important information for referring practitioners
- Refer to HealthPathways for assessment and management information or local guidelines if available
Referral requirements
A referral may be rejected without the following information.
Additional Referral Information (Useful for processing the referral)
- FBC, ELFTs, TSH results
- Details of relevant signs and symptoms
- Details of all treatments offered and efficacy
- Past medical history and comorbidities
- Family history of cardiac disease or sudden cardiac death
- Any investigations relevant to any co-morbidities
- Other investigations (if available) e.g., echocardiogram report, CXR report, Holter monitor report, sleep study report
- History of smoking, alcohol intake and drug use (including recreational drugs)
- Coagulation studies, fasting lipid, magnesium results
Out of catchment
Metro North Health is responsible for providing public health services to the people who reside within its boundaries. Special consideration is made for patients requiring tertiary care or services that are not provided by their local Hospital and Health Service. If your patient lives outside the Metro North Health area and you wish to refer them to one of our services, inclusion of information regarding their particular medical and social factors will assist with the triaging of your referral.
- Impact on employment
- Impact on education
- Impact on home
- Impact on activities of daily living
- Impact on ability to care for others
- Impact on personal frailty or safety
- Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- To establish a diagnosis
- For treatment or intervention
- For advice and management
- For specialist to take over management
- Reassurance for GP/second opinion
- For a specified test/investigation the GP can’t order, or the patient can’t afford or access
- Reassurance for the patient/family
- For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
- Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary
- Presenting symptoms (evolution and duration)
- Physical findings
- Details of previous treatment (including systemic and topical medications prescribed) including the course and outcome of the treatment
- Body mass index (BMI)
- Details of any associated medical conditions which may affect the condition or its treatment (e.g. diabetes), noting these must be stable and controlled prior to referral
- Current medications and dosages
- Drug allergies
- Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use
- Full name (including aliases)
- Date of birth
- Residential and postal address
- Telephone contact number/s – home, mobile and alternative
- Medicare number (where eligible)
- Name of the parent or caregiver (if appropriate)
- Preferred language and interpreter requirements
- Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- Full name
- Full address
- Contact details – telephone, fax, email
- Provider number
- Date of referral
- Signature
- Willingness to have surgery (where surgery is a likely intervention)
- Choice to be treated as a public or private patient
- Compensable status (e.g. DVA, Work Cover, Motor Vehicle Insurance, etc.)
Send referral
Hotline: 1300 364 938
Medical Objects ID: MQ40290004P
HealthLink EDI: qldmnhhs
Mail:
Metro North Central Patient Intake
Aspley Community Centre
776 Zillmere Road
ASPLEY QLD 4034
Health pathways
Access to Health Pathways is free for clinicians in Metro North Brisbane.
For login details email:
healthpathways@brisbanenorthphn.org.au
Login to Brisbane North Health Pathways:
brisbanenorth.healthpathwayscommunity.org