The Vascular Surgery Unit provides comprehensive and cutting-edge management of all arterial and venous pathology. At Northern Health we bring our patient the very latest in endovascular management of aortic aneurysms, peripheral arterial disease and complex venous disease. We work in close collaboration with Endocrinology, Haematology, Infectious Diseases, Podiatry, Radiology and Renal to bring our patients a multi-disciplinary service.
We specialised in Peripheral arterial Disease, Aortoiliac Aneurysms, Carotid disease, Chronic venous disease including post thrombotic Syndrome.
Our Service features:
- Our vascular surgeons run several endovascular operating lists per week dedicated to the management of arterial and venous disease.
- Latest Endovascular Technology such as atherectomy, mechanicopharmacologic thrombectomy, Endovascular repair of aortic aneurysms.
- Ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy of varicose veins.
- Intravascular ultrasound for investigation of chronic venous disease such as chronic leg swelling following previous DVT in collaboration with the Northern Health Haematology Clot clinic.
- The weekly Northern Health Vascular Outpatient Clinic – which includes a comprehensive podiatry and wound service. This also includes the Renal/Vascular Clinic for renal access patients.
- Broadmeadows Vein Clinic – Dedicated to patients with varicose veins and chronic venous disease such as post-thrombotic syndrome.
- Broadmeadows Vascular and Chronic Wound clinic -this is a multi-disciplinary clinic including chronic wound physician, podiatry, chronic wound nurse and vascular surgeon.
Vascular Referral Criteria:
For conditions outlined below, please refer to the Victoria Statewide Referral Criteria for Specialists Clinics: https://src.health.vic.gov.au/specialities for detailed referral criteria and required supporting information.
- Aortic aneurysm
- Carotid artery disease
- Deep vein thrombosis
- High-risk foot ulcers
- Hyperhidrosis
- Lympoedema
- Non-healing or chronic lower leg ulcers
- Varicose veins *
For all other Vascular conditions, please continue to refer as per clinical assessment and need.
* Northern Health only offers treatment for patients that have (objective & physical) signs of complications of varicose vein including:
- Symptomatic varicose vein with a CEAP* classification of C3, C4, C5 or C6. That is varicose veins with these clinical characteristics:
– chronic leg swelling/oedema
– pigmentation, eczema, lipodermatoscerleosis, atrophie blanche
– healed venous ulcer
– active venous ulcer
- Venous conditions with the following symptoms
– Chronic dermatitis/eczema
– Bleeding
– Leg ulcers or infections
– Superficial thrombophlebitis
- Venous disorders in patients less than 16 years old
Excluded as indications for surgery are:
- Venous conditions which are unlikely to lead to the conditions listed above
- Cosmetic veins in patients greater than 16 years old
- Spider veins in patients greater than 16 years old
For a comprehensive suite of clinical pathways, including detailed referral criteria and required supporting information, please see Healthpathways Melbourne via the link: Healthpathways Melbourne – Vascular Surgery
How to Refer:
All referrals to Northern Health should be via:
eReferral or Fax: 8405-8616
Urgent referrals can be made directly to the on-call Vascular Registrar via Northern Hospital switchboard: 8405 8000
Minimum Referral Information
To ensure safe, timely access to Northern Health, all referrals must contain the minimum referral information.
*Please note: if a referral fails to meet the minimum referral information it will be declined with written notification to referring health professional and patient.
