News
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In the News section you will find our most recent publications: newsletter, project-reports etc. Previous reports you might find via Research areas, Research projects and Repository.
Newsletter
Newsletter
Announcement
Robot-assisted surgery in thoracic and visceral indications
In robot-assisted surgery, the surgeons control the surgical instruments with a telemanipulator. The aim of our report was to investigate the efficacy and safety of robotic surgery compared to open surgery as well as conventional laparoscopy in thoracic and visceral indications. A total of 13 indications were investigated. There was insufficient evidence for the evaluation of efficacy in nine indications. Statements on effect were possible only for some of the outcomes in only four of the procedures (oesophagectomy, gastrectomy, rectal resection,cholecystectomy), for which the quality of the evidence was rated low to moderate. Since the current evidence is not sufficient to determine the added value of robot-assisted surgery compared to conventional surgical procedures, results of ongoing studies are awaited.
Publication: LBI-HTA Project report No. 108: https://eprints.aihta.at/1198/
Contact: Louise Schmidt
Announcement
Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP): Technology forecast
Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products" (ATMP) is the umbrella term for three classes of medicinal products: somatic cell therapy medicinal products, gene therapy medicinal products and biotechnologically processed tissue preparations [also known as tissue engineering products (TEP)], as well as combination products. These drugs contain or mostly consist of living cells or tissues and are therefore highly complex. The cells used are often taken from a patient, processed in the laboratory (e.g. increased or genetically modified) and then administered again to the same patient.
The review of the LBI-HTA (published only as an English publication, not as a report) gives an overview of applications of ATMP products shortly before or after their market launch.
Publication: Article
Contact: Claudia Wild
Newsletter
Announcement
Evaluation methods for the benefit assessment of easily accessible, out-patient health centers for vulnerable groups - Target group focus: Homeless and non-insured people
Vulnerable groups, such as homeless and non-insured people, have a poorer physical and mental health status than comparable populations and usually have no or difficult access to standard health care. Social organisations provide basic health and social care services for these groups of people. Against this background, we searched for evaluation methods for the benefit assessment of easily accessible, outpatient health centers and described the methods, indicators, and instruments used in evaluation studies and reports of comparable services.
Publication: LBI-HTA Project report No. 114: https://eprints.aihta.at/1195/
Contact: Roman Winkler, Inanna Reinsperger
Announcement
C-reactive protein point-of-care testing (CRP POCT) to guide antibiotic prescribing in primary care settings for acute respiratory tract infections
Infection markers such as the C-reactive protein (CRP) can be used in addition to the clinical diagnosis of an infectious disease. So far, CRP tests have been carried out in the laboratory; CRP "point-of-care-testing" (POCT) refers to measurements close to the patient in primary care. The result is available within minutes. CRP POCT is intended to assist the physician to rule out a severe bacterial infection and support a decision on the need for antibiotic prescription.
Publication: LBI-HTA Project report No. 116: https://eprints.aihta.at/1194/
Contact: Sabine Ettinger
Announcement
Horizon Scanning in Oncology - Reports
We are pleased to introduce our two new HSO reports.
DSD HSO No. 86
Olaparib (Lynparza®) as first-line maintenance therapy in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer
DSD HSO No. 87
Atezolizumab (Tecentriq®) with nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane®) for the treatment of advanced triple-negative breast cancer (aTNBC)
Newsletter
Announcement
Bioresorbable stents for the treatment of cardiovascular indications (coronary artery disease)
CAD is a disease defined as the manifestation of arteriosclerosis in the coronary arteries and is the leading cause of death in Europe. This systematic review evaluates the current evidence on the efficacy and safety of bioresorbable stents, the latest generation of stents in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the treatment of CAD, compared to traditional revascularisation strategies (PCI with permanent metal stents or coronary artery bypass graft surgery).
Based on evidence from eight RCTs, the fully bioresorbable everolimus-eluting stent Absorb® BVS is considered to be less effective and to have a worse safety profile compared with everolimus- or biolimus-eluting permanent metal stents. There is insufficient evidence to determine whether Absorb® BVS is considered less effective or less safe than other revascularisation strategies. There is insufficient evidence to determine whether the other four currently CE-certificated fully bioresorbable sent systems [DESolve®, Magmaris (Dreams 2G), Art Pure or Fantom®] are more effective than (or at least as effective as) and/or have better (or at least similar) safety profiles compared with drug-eluting permanent metal stents or other revascularisation strategies.
Publication: Decision Support Document No. 81/1.Update: https://eprints.aihta.at/1191/
Contact: Judit Erdos