Aortic Aneurysm
Emergency referrals
All urgent cases must be discussed with the on call Vascular Registrar. Contact through Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (07) 3646 8111 to obtain appropriate prioritisation and treatment.
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
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) >5.0cm transverse diameter measure (increasing size, tenderness)
- Thoracic aneurysm >5.0cm transverse diameter measure (increasing size, tenderness)
- Rapid AAA expansion (>1.0cm / year)
Category 2
Appointment within 90 days is desirable
- AAA 4.0-5.0cm – transverse diameter measure
- Thoracic aneurysm 4.0-5.0cm – transverse diameter measure
Category 3
Appointment within 365 days is desirable
- AAA <4.0cm – transverse diameter measure
- Thoracic aneurysm <4.0cm – transverse diameter measure
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
- Advance health directive (where available)
- 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 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
Referral requirements
A referral may be rejected without the following information.
Send referral
Hotline: 1300 364 938
Fax: 1300 364 952
Electronic: eReferral system
Mail: Metro North Central Patient Intake
Aspley Community Centre
776 Zillmere Road
ASPLEY QLD 4034
Health pathways
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For login details email:
healthpathways
Login to Brisbane North Health Pathways:
brisbanenorth.