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Gastroenterology

Find assessment and management information on Gastroenterology conditions at:

Brisbane South HealthPathways

Emergency Immediate transfer to the Emergency Department

If any of the following are present or suspected, phone 000 to arrange immediate transfer to the emergency department or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.

  • Potentially life-threatening symptoms suggestive of:
    • acute upper GI tract bleeding
    • acute severe lower GI tract bleeding
    • oesophageal foreign bodies/food bolus
    • Acute Severe colitis*
    • bowel obstruction
    • abdominal sepsis
  • Severe vomiting and/or diarrhoea with dehydration
  • Acute/fulminant liver failure (to be referred to a centre with dedicated Hepatology services)
  • Biliary sepsis (to be referred to a centre with ERCP service)

*Acute severe colitis is defined by the Truelove and Witts criteria – all patients with ≥6 bloody bowel motions per 24 hours plus at least one of the following:

  • Temperature at presentation of >37.8°C
  • Pulse rate at presentation of >90bpm
  • Haemoglobin at presentation of <105gm/l, CRP >30mg/dl (or ESR >30mm/hr)

Are you referring to the right service?

No alternative referral information at this time.

Urgent referrals Arranging urgent review

Conditions

Adults

Screening and surveillance

Out of scope services

Find assessment and management information on some out of scope conditions at Brisbane South HealthPathways.

The following are not routinely provided in a public Gastroenterology service.

NB: If a patient has been fully investigated 2 years prior to referral.  The referrer and the receiving clinician will need to exercise clinical decision making in triaging and/or value in repeat endoscopy/colonoscopy procedures.
 

Notes

  • Please note that where appropriate and where available, the referral may be streamed to an associated public allied health and/or nursing service.  Access to some specific services may include initial assessment and management by associated public allied health and/or nursing, which may either facilitate or negate the need to see the public medical specialist.
  • A change in patient circumstance (such as condition deteriorating, or becoming pregnant) may affect the urgency categorisation and should be communicated as soon as possible.
  • Please indicate in the referral if the patient is unable to access mandatory tests or investigations as they incur a cost or are unavailable locally.

Out of catchment

Metro South 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 South 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.

Last updated 14 December 2022