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Direct to an emergency department for:
- Acute liver failure
- Sepsis in a patient with cirrhosis
- Severe hepatic encephalopathy
- Severe ascites restricting movement and breathing.
Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services
- Patients who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) positive
- Pregnant women who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) positive
- Patients who are immunosuppressed or starting immunosuppressant medicines who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HbcAb) positive (e.g. transplant patients, starting chemotherapy).
Information to be included in the referral
Information that must be provided
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) serology results
- Hepatitis C virus and HIV serology
- Liver function tests
- Full blood examination
- Upper abdominal ultrasound results
- If pregnant, gestational age
- Current and complete medication history (including non-prescription medicines, herbs and supplements).
Provide if available
- Previous liver biopsy results
- Details of previous medical management including the course of treatment and outcome of treatment.
Additional comments
The Summary and referral information lists the information that should be included in a referral request.
Where appropriate and available the referral may be directed to an alternative specialist clinic or service.
Referral to a public hospital is not appropriate for
- Patients who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) negative, unless they are immunosuppressed or starting immunosuppressant medicines and are hepatitis B core antibody positive.