Med Tech-related technology assessments and clinical guidelines from NICE in the second half of May 2018

Interventional Procedure Guidance is developed for most of the novel interventional procedures entering the English market. The program focuses solely on the clinical evidence. Recommendations may vary from ‘for research only’ to ‘for use with standard arrangements for clinical governance, consent, and audit.' Recommendations are not binding, although they are followed by providers and commissioners.

In the second half of May NICE published two new Interventional Procedure Guidance:

• Interventional Procedure Guidance Low-level laser therapy for preventing or treating oral mucositis caused by radiotherapy or chemotherapy, which covers evidence-based recommendations on applying low-energy lasers to the affected tissue. Current evidence on the safety of low-level laser therapy for oral mucositis shows no major safety concerns. Evidence on efficacy is adequate in quality and quantity. Therefore, this procedure can be used provided that standard arrangements are in place for clinical governance, consent and audit.
• Interventional Procedure Guidance Endoscopic bipolar radiofrequency ablation for treating biliary obstruction caused by cancer, which covers evidence-based recommendations on on endoscopic bipolar radiofrequency ablation for treating biliary obstruction caused by cancer in adults. This involves using heat energy both to clear blockage in the bile ducts before inserting stents and to clear blocked stents. Current evidence on endoscopic bipolar radiofrequency ablation for treating biliary obstruction caused by cancer shows there are serious but well recognised safety concerns. Evidence on efficacy is limited in quality and quantity. Therefore, this procedure should only be used in the context of research, which should include randomised controlled trials.

See full details here.

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