Surgery

25 May 2006

Prostate therapy benefits doubted

Research published in the British Journal of Cancer suggests that many men diagnosed with low-grade prostate cancer do not benefit from radical treatment. The researchers calculated that, even without treatment, only about 1% of men aged 55-59 with diagnosed low-grade disease would die within 15 years. Side effects of radical treatment such as surgery and radiotherapy can include incontinence and impotence. The Department of Health said its advisers would consider the findings.
British Journal of Cancer 2006 Vol.94 pp.1361-8
BBC News Report

25 May 2006

NICE - appraisal consultation document on hormonal treatments for early breast cancer

The National Institute for Health and Clincal Excellence has published Breast cancer (early)- hormonal treatments (appraisal consultation document) The preliminary recommendations state that the aromatase inhibitors anastrozole, exemestane and letrozole, within their licensed indications, are recommended as options for the adjuvant treatment of early oestrogen-receptor-positive invasive breast cancer in post-menopausal women.
BBC News Report

25 May 2006

NICE guidance on Percutaneous disc decompression using coblation for lower back pain

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has published Percutaneous disc decompression using coblation for lower back pain The guidance concludes that current evidence suggests that there are no major safety concerns associated with the use of the procedure. There is some evidence of short-term efficacy; however, this is not sufficient to support the use of this procedure without special arrangements for consent and for audit or research.

24 May 2006

NICE guidance on Living donor lung transplantation for end-stage lung disease

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has published Living donor lung transplantation for end-stage lung disease The guidance concludes that current evidence on the efficacy of the procedure and its safety profile for suitable recipients appears adeqaute to support its use. However, the procedure should only be used in selected patients who would otherwise die. Additionally, limited evidence suggests that the procedure carries a significant risk of morbidity for donors. Therefore clinicians wishing to undertake this procedure should inform the clinical governance leads in their Trusts and ensure that donors receive thorough physical and psychological screening, and counselling about the morbidity associated with this
procedure.

24 May 2006

NICE guidance on High dose rate brachytherapy for prostate cancer

The National Institute for Health and Clinical excellence has published High dose rate brachytherapy for prostate cancer The guidance concludes that current evidence on the safety and efficacy of high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy in combination with external-beam radiotherapy for localised prostate cancer appears adequate to support the use of this procedure provided that the normal arrangements are in place for consent, audit and clinical governance

24 May 2006

NICE guidance on Endovascular closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published Endovascular closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect The guidance concludes that current evidence on the safety and efficacy of the procedure appears adequate to support its use provided that the normal arrangements are in place for consent, audit and clinical governance.

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