CPAC026
CLINICAL PRIORITY ACCESS CRITERIA
Service Category: VASCULAR SURGERY
Category Definitions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Category
1.
Immediate
Seen within 24
hours
2.
Urgent
Seen within 1 week
Patient Type: Outpatient (Assessment)
Immediate
Urgent
Semi-Urgent
Routine
–
–
–
–
Treatment within 24 hours
Seen within 1 week
Seen within 1 month
Seen within 2 months
Criteria

Haemorrhage.

Embolism/Thrombosis.

Complete heart block.

Critical ischaemic limb (ischaemic ?
in evolution).

? Infection.

Conditions where there is a:
Examples
(not an exhaustive list)

Ruptured abdominal aneurysm
trauma.



Critical limb ischaemia.
Stroke in evolution.
Mesenteric ischaemia.


Arterial occlusion (Thrombotic or
embolic).
Diabetes induced ischaemia.


Cellulitis in an ischaemic leg.
Osteomyelitis in a diabetic foot.

Changing aneurysm (increasing size,
tenderness).

Deteriorating claudicant.

Ischaemic and threatened limb

Crescendo TIAs.

>90% stenosis of internal carotid
(duplex scan positive).

Axilliary vein thrombosis.

Deep venous thrombosis.

Progressive long saphenous vein
thrombosis.

Painful leg with ulceration or
ischaemic necrosis.

Cellulitis in diabetic or ischaemic leg

Osteomyelitis in diabetic or
– Threat to life; or
– Limb; or
– Stroke threatening.




Last updated February 2006
Conditions where there is a threat of
pulmonary embolus.
Ischaemic rest pain (thrombosis or
embolus).
Haemorrhage from varicose veins.
Active infection in leg with peripheral
vascular disease.
ischaemic leg.
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CPAC026
3.
Semi-Urgent
Seen within 1
month

Aortic aneurysm.

Not tender, >5 cm.

Significant functional impairment
threatening quality of life.

Severe claudication (< 50m).

TIAs.

Stenosis of internal carotid >70%

Arterio venous access surgery.

False aneurysm.

Traumatic arteriovenous fistula





Pre-ulcerative venous disease.
Claudication (> 50m).
Post thrombotic limb.
Arteriovenous malformations.
Sympathetic dystrophy

Asymptomatic carotid stenosis.


Vasospastic disorders.
Small vessel diseases associated
with systemic illnesses.

Chronic swelling of limb.

Varicose veins causing discomfort

Varicose veins causing
thrombophlebitis except for when
porto-systemic shunting is being
considered.

Excessive sweating of hands or feet

Leg ulcer due to venous disease or
other cause. Diabetic foot ulcer

Not tender. >3.5 and <5 males ?2.5
and <5 cm in females


4.
Routine
Seen within 2
months
Need for renal dialysis within 6
months.
Sequelae of trauma.

Moderate functional impairment.

Carotid bruit.

Arteritides.

Lymphatic disease.

Varicose veins.

Hyperhidrosis

Leg ulcer

Aortic aneurysm
NOTE:

Oesophageal varices are normally managed within General Surgery. The following conditions will not
be seen: Telangiectasia or reticular veins, asymptomatic/cosmetic varicose veins. Refer to Vascular
Surgery Vol 30 (1).
Last updated February 2006
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