Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU) - For Clinicians

To make a referral to SAU contact the Ops Centre on 0117 4140700 

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Common surgical Problems:

  • Gallbladder problems. We are currently involved in a quality improvement project to try and improve treatment of patients who require urgent surgery.
  • Pancreatitis
  • Problems that might require emergency abdominal surgery (emergency laparotomy) such as bowel obstruction or perforation. We are involved in a quality improvement project to improve outcomes from emergency laparotomy. We are also working on a project looking at frailty in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy. 
  • Rectal bleeding. Most patients with bleeding do not require admission to hospital.
  • Appendicitis
  • Diverticulitis (inflammatory condition of large bowel)
  • Non-specific abdominal pain. We see a lot of patients with abdominal pain where we do not find a specific cause. Our intention is to exclude a serious cause for the pain by performing investigations. If no cause is found, the treatment is pain killers and reassurance.

Common Urological problems:

  • Renal Colic
  • Haamaturia (blood in urine)
  • Urinary retention
  • Obstructed kidneys

Common vascular problems:

  • Acute, or acute on chronic, limb ischaemia
  • Symptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm- if there is concern regarding rupture patient must be assessed in ED resus first
  • Symptomatic carotid stenosis
  • Acute diabetic foot problems (ischaemia and/or infection)
  • Proximal upper or lower limb DVT for lysis
  • False aneurysm (IVDU or post cardiology procedure)
  • Readmission for wound complication following arterial surgery

Please note:

  • Renal access complications admitted via renal team
  • Acute dissection admitted to CCU or ICU jointly with Cardiology

Contact SAU

SAU is on 32B, Level 1, Brunel building, Southmead Hospital.

It is above the Medical Admission Unit (MAU), Emergency Department (ED) and Radiology which are on Level 0.

Telephone: 0117 4143234 or 0117 4143233

Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU) - For Clinicians