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Hypertension (endocrine)

Emergency department referrals

All urgent cases must be discussed with the on call Surgical Registrar to obtain appropriate prioritisation and treatment. Contact through:

    Urgent cases accepted via phone must be accompanied with a written referral and a copy faxed immediately to the Central Patient Intake Unit: 1300 364 952.

    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

    • Confirmed or suspected phaeochromocytoma
    • Young patients (≤50 years) with severe persistent hypertension (>180/110 but below 220/140) without concerning features
      • headache
      • confusion
      • blurred vision
      • retinal haemorrhage
      • reduced level of consciousness
      • seizures
      • proteinuria
      • papilloedema
      • signs of heart failure
      • chest pain
    • Hypertension that persists after trial of oral medication as described by the Heart Foundation Hypertension Guideline
    • Confirmed or suspected Cushing’s Disease or Syndrome

    Category 2

    Appointment within 90 days is desirable

    • Primary hyperaldosteronism (Conn’s syndrome)
    • Patients suspected of having any other secondary endocrine cause for hypertension
    • Patients with hypertension (but ≤180/100) in whom renal artery stenosis is suspected (consider referral to vascular if available)
    • Patients with resistant hypertension (but ≤180/100) despite receiving 3 or more antihypertensive agents in optimal dose and no underlying ischaemic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, or chronic kidney disease
    • Patients with hypertension (but ≤180/100) who have intolerances to multiple antihypertensive agents

    Category 3

    Appointment within 365 days is desirable

    • Young patients (≤50 years) with refractory hypertension (>140/90 but ≤180/110)

    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

    Not an exhaustive list

    • Refer to HealthPathways for assessment and management information if available.
    • Many drugs affect renin and aldosterone secretion and may affect interpretation of aldosterone: renin ratio

    Referral requirements

    A referral may be rejected without the following information.

    Essential Referral Information

    • General referral information
    • Renin, aldosterone results
    • Plasma free metadrenaline and normetadrenaline results
    • Renal duplex report (only if renal artery stenosis suspected)
    • Details of all treatments offered and efficacy
    • BP (BP measurements on both arms preferable)
    • Relevant previous medical history and co-morbidities
    • FBC, ELFTs, eGFR, fasting lipids results
    • Urinalysis results
    • Urinary protein estimation results or albumin creatinine ratio
    • CXR report
    • ECG

    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.)
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