Med Tech-related technology assessments and clinical guidelines from NICE in March 2020

In March 2020, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published four new interventional procedure guidance (for bilateral cervicosacropexy or vaginosacropexy using mesh for pelvic organ prolapse, cyanoacrylate glue occlusion for varicose veins, MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy and selective internal radiation therapy for unresectable colorectal metastases in the liver) and five Medtech innovation briefings (for Cor-Knot for tying suture knots in valve surgery, artificial intelligence for analyzing CT brain scans and others).

In March 2020, NICE published four new Interventional Procedure Guidance:

• Interventional Procedure Guidance Bilateral cervicosacropexy (CESA) or vaginosacropexy (VASA) using mesh for pelvic organ prolapse, which covers evidence-based recommendations on bilateral cervicosacropexy (CESA) or vaginosacropexy (VASA) using mesh for pelvic organ prolapse in adults. Evidence on the safety and efficacy of bilateral cervicosacropexy (CESA) or vaginosacropexy (VASA) using mesh for pelvic organ prolapse is inadequate in quantity and quality. Therefore, this procedure should only be used in the context of research.
• Interventional Procedure Guidance Cyanoacrylate glue occlusion for varicose veins, which covers evidence-based recommendations on cyanoacrylate glue occlusion for varicose veins. Evidence on the safety and efficacy of cyanoacrylate glue occlusion for varicose veins is adequate to support the use of this procedure provided that standard arrangements are in place for clinical governance, consent, and audit.
• Interventional Procedure Guidance MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy, which covers evidence-based recommendations on MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy in adults and children. Evidence on the safety of MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy shows there are serious but well-recognized safety concerns. Evidence on its efficacy is limited in quality. Therefore, this procedure should only be used with special arrangements for clinical governance, consent, and audit or research.
• Interventional Procedure Guidance Selective internal radiation therapy for unresectable colorectal metastases in the liver, which covers evidence-based recommendations on selective internal radiation therapy for unresectable colorectal metastases in the liver in adults. Evidence on the safety and efficacy of cyanoacrylate glue occlusion for varicose veins is adequate to support the use of this procedure provided that standard arrangements are in place for clinical governance, consent, and audit.

MedTech Innovation Briefing is the NICE's advice program for innovative technologies. It provides an overview of clinical effectiveness, safety, and cost. It does not offer formal guidance, and it, therefore, does not provide any recommendations.

Five new Medtech Innovation Briefings for Cor-Knot for tying suture knots in valve surgery (used for securing sutures in open and minimally invasive valve surgery), Artificial intelligence for analyzing CT brain scans (it is to assess CT images of people with suspected brain abnormalities), NATROX oxygen wound therapy for managing diabetic foot ulcers and complex or chronic non-healing wounds (used to treat chronic non-healing and complex wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers), EarlyCDT-Lung for cancer risk classification of indeterminate pulmonary nodules (a blood test used to classify the malignancy risk of indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPN) found by chest CT or X‑ray, which would then lead to screening) and TUC Safety Valve to prevent balloon inflation in the urethra during transurethral catheterization (suitable for anyone aged over 16 who needs transurethral catheterization) have been published in March.

See the full details here.

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