Health technology assessment : HTA
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Health Technol Assess · Sep 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyBeta-Agonist Lung injury TrIal-2 (BALTI-2): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial and economic evaluation of intravenous infusion of salbutamol versus placebo in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a major cause of mortality in intensive care patients and lacks effective treatments. A previous randomised controlled Phase II trial suggested that an intravenous (i.v.) infusion of salbutamol may be beneficial, as it reduced extravascular lung water and plateau airway pressure. The Beta-Agonist Lung injury TrIal-2 (BALTI-2) was initiated to evaluate the effects of this intervention on mortality in patients with ARDS. ⋯ Treatment with i.v. salbutamol early in the course of ARDS was poorly tolerated, is unlikely to be beneficial and could worsen outcomes. Further trials of β-agonists in patients with ARDS are unlikely to be conducted. Some questions remain, such as whether or not there may be benefit at a different dose or in specific populations, but any studies investigating these would require a very strong rationale.
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Health Technol Assess · Sep 2013
ReviewRapid fetal fibronectin testing to predict preterm birth in women with symptoms of premature labour: a systematic review and cost analysis.
Premature birth is defined as birth of before 37 completed weeks' gestation. Not all pregnant women showing symptoms of preterm labour will go on to deliver before 37 weeks' gestation. Hence, addition of fetal fibronectin (fFN) testing to the diagnostic workup of women with suspected preterm labour may help to identify those women who do not require active management, and thus avoid unnecessary interventions, hospitalisations and associated costs. ⋯ The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.
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Health Technol Assess · Sep 2013
ReviewA systematic review of evidence on malignant spinal metastases: natural history and technologies for identifying patients at high risk of vertebral fracture and spinal cord compression.
Spinal metastases can lead to significant morbidity and reduction in quality of life due to spinal cord compression (SCC). Between 5% and 20% of patients with spinal metastases develop metastatic spinal cord compression during the course of their disease. An early study estimated average survival for patients with SCC to be between 3 and 7 months, with a 36% probability of survival to 12 months. An understanding of the natural history and early diagnosis of spinal metastases and prediction of collapse of the metastatic vertebrae are important. ⋯ This report was commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment Programme NIHR HTA Programme as project number HTA 10/91/01.
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Health Technol Assess · Aug 2013
ReviewClinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of depth of anaesthesia monitoring (E-Entropy, Bispectral Index and Narcotrend): a systematic review and economic evaluation.
It is important that the level of general anaesthesia (GA) is appropriate for the individual patient undergoing surgery. If anaesthesia is deeper than required to keep a patient unconscious, there might be increased risk of anaesthetic-related morbidity, such as postoperative nausea, vomiting and cognitive dysfunction. This may also prolong recovery times, potentially increasing health-care costs. If anaesthesia is too light, patients may not be fully unconscious and could be at risk of intraoperative awareness. ⋯ The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.
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Health Technol Assess · Aug 2013
ReviewEchocardiography in newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation patients: a systematic review and economic evaluation.
To investigate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in all patients who are newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF). ⋯ The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.