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Refer for emergency assessment
Direct to an emergency department for:
- Acute liver failure
- Suspected acute cholecystitis
- Suspected acute cholangitis
- Suspected obstructive jaundice.
Criteria for referral to public hospital service
Known or suspected hepatobiliary malignancy.
Information to be included in the referral
Information that must be provided
- Findings on physical examination
- Onset, characteristics and duration of symptoms and sentinel findings (e.g. abdominal pain, weight loss)
- Relevant medical history, surgical history and comorbidities (e.g. past history of any malignancy)
- Current and complete medication history (including non-prescription medicines, herbs and supplements and recreational or injectable drugs).
Provide if available
- Most recent liver function tests
- If already performed CA 19-9 blood test results
- Hepatobiliary CT scan results (including date and details of the diagnostic imaging practice)
- Hepatobiliary ultrasound results (including date and details of the diagnostic imaging practice).
Additional comments
The Summary and referral information lists the information that should be included in a referral request.
CT scans are the optimal imaging for these patients.
Referrals for Abnormal liver function tests without sentinel findings should be directed to gastroenterology.
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
Not applicable.