Carotid Artery Disease
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
- Isolated TIA/stroke, amaurosis fugax
- Symptomatic internal carotid stenosis of >50% on imaging
Category 2
Appointment within 90 days is desirable
- Asymptomatic internal carotid stenosis of >80% on imaging
- Symptomatic <50% internal carotid stenosis
- Symptomatic subclavian steal syndrome
- Occluded internal carotid
- Carotid body tumour
Category 3
Appointment within 365 days is desirable
- Asymptomatic carotid stenosis of between 50-79% on imaging
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)
- 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 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)
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
Access to Health Pathways is free for clinicians in Metro North Brisbane.
For login details email:
healthpathways
Login to Brisbane North Health Pathways:
brisbanenorth.