Vascular

  • If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or follow local emergency care protocols or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.

    • Crescendo or multiple recent TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) / amaurosis fugax
    • Acute stroke
    • Acute aortic dissection
    • Ruptured AAA
    • Symptomatic AAA (abdominal/back pain/tenderness, compressive symptoms, distal embolisation)
    • Axillary vein thrombosis, iliofemoral DVT
    • Acute DVT
    • Active infection in leg with peripheral arterial disease
    • Diabetic foot infection (refer to high-risk foot pathway)
    • Acute arterial ischemia/threatened limb
    • Ischaemic changes and/or threatened limb (ulcer, gangrene, rest pain)
    • Active infection in leg with peripheral arterial disease
    • Diabetic foot infection (refer to high-risk foot Healthpathway)
    • Foot ulcer with infection and systemically unwell or febrile, invasive infection or rapidly spreading cellulitis (defined by peripheral redness around the wound >2cm), acute ischaemia, wet gangrene, acute or suspected Charcot - A
    • Thrombosed AVF (refer to vascular registrar on call or the renal access nurse)

  • Please note this is not an exhaustive list of all conditions for outpatient services and does not exclude consideration for referral unless specifically stipulated in the CPC out of scope section.

  • The following are not routinely provided in a public Vascular service.

    • Asymptomatic / cosmetic varicose veins (unless within scope of your local health service)
    • Leg pain with tibial vessel occlusions in non-diabetic patients

Last updated: 18 December 2018

© State of Queensland (Queensland Health) 2023

Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this work may be reproduced, communicated or adapted without permission from Queensland Health. To request permission email ip_officer@health.qld.gov.au1.