New NICE guideline [NG99] Brain tumours (primary) and brain metastases in adults

New NICE guideline [NG99] Brain tumours (primary) and brain metastases in adults


Published date: July 2018    


This guideline covers diagnosing, monitoring and managing any type of primary brain tumour or brain metastases in people aged 16 or over. It aims to improve diagnosis and care, including standardising the care people have, how information and support are provided, and palliative care.


For full guidance
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng99           

New NIHR Signal Balance of long-term benefits and risks of caesarean delivery explained

New NIHR Signal Balance of long-term benefits and risks of caesarean delivery explained
Published on 12 June 2018


Caesarean delivery has immediate known benefits and risks for those women who need help in childbirth. This review measures the long-term outcomes for the mothers’ health, the links to a higher risk of childhood illness and the chance of problems with future pregnancies.
From the NIHR Dissemination Centre
https://discover.dc.nihr.ac.uk/content/signal-000601/balance-of-long-term-benefits-and-risks-of-caesarean-delivery-explained

New NIHR Signal Fewer side-effects and similar benefits from shorter chemotherapy after bowel cancer surgery

New NIHR Signal Fewer side-effects and similar benefits from shorter chemotherapy after bowel cancer surgery
Published on 12 June 2018


A three-month course of chemotherapy after surgery for bowel cancer seems no less effective than the standard six-month course, and half as many people suffered from nerve damage as a side-effect. Three-quarters of people survived to three years without disease progression on either treatment.
From the NIHR Dissemination Centre
https://discover.dc.nihr.ac.uk/content/signal-000603/fewer-side-effects-and-similar-benefits-from-shorter-chemotherapy-after-bowel-cancer-surgery

New NIHR Signal Aspirin may be a follow-on option to prevent blood clots, starting five days after hip or knee surgery

New NIHR Signal Aspirin may be a follow-on option to prevent blood clots, starting five days after hip or knee surgery
Published on 5 June 2018


In a recent trial, switching to low-dose aspirin was just as effective at preventing blood clots after joint replacement surgery as continuing the anti-clotting drug rivaroxaban. Six per 1,000 people taking aspirin experienced a blood clot, compared with seven per 1,000 taking rivaroxaban. Three to five per 1,000 patients experienced major bleeding with either drug.
From the NIHR Dissemination Centrre
https://discover.dc.nihr.ac.uk/content/signal-000599/aspirin-may-be-a-follow-on-option-to-prevent-blood-clots-starting-five-days-after-surgery

New NIHR Signal Plastic wraps or bags keep pre-term infants warm immediately after birth

New NIHR Signal Plastic wraps or bags keep pre-term infants warm immediately after birth
Published on 22 May 2018


Cheap and simple plastic wrapping used in the first 10 minutes after birth helps pre-term and low birth weight infants avoid hypothermia. Infants treated in this way are likely to be warmer when admitted to neonatal intensive care than those treated according to standard care. Pre-term infants are most likely to benefit.
From the NIHR Dissemination Centre
https://discover.dc.nihr.ac.uk/content/signal-00596/plastic-wraps-or-bags-keep-pre-term-infants-warm-immediately-after-birth

New NIHR Signal Cell salvage during caesarean section doesn’t reduce blood transfusions

New NIHR Signal Cell salvage during caesarean section doesn’t reduce blood transfusions
Published on 15 May 2018


In a large UK trial, cell salvage for women at risk of blood loss during caesarean did not reduce the need for donor blood transfusion, though few needed transfusion (2.5% compared with 3.5% among controls).
From the NIHR Dissemination Centre
https://discover.dc.nihr.ac.uk/content/signal-00592/cell-salvage-during-c-section-doesnt-reduce-blood-transfusions

New NIHR Signal Probiotics can prevent bacterial diarrhoea in hospital patients receiving antibiotics

New NIHR Signal Probiotics can prevent bacterial diarrhoea in hospital patients receiving antibiotics
Published on 1 May 2018

Giving probiotics to people taking antibiotics reduces the chance of them developing diarrhoea caused by Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) bacteria by 60%. One case of Clostridium-associated diarrhoea was prevented for every 42 people receiving probiotics. They appear to work best for patients at more than 5% risk of Clostridium infection.

From the NIHR Dissemination Centre
https://discover.dc.nihr.ac.uk/content/signal-00589/probiotics-to-prevent-diarrhoea-caused-by-c-difficile

New NIHR Signal Atraumatic needles reduce headaches following lumbar puncture

New NIHR Signal Atraumatic needles reduce headaches following lumbar puncture
Published on 17 April 2018


Use of atraumatic needles rather than conventional needles for lumbar puncture more than halves the rate of post-procedure headache. Moreover, this improvement does not come at the expense of procedure success rates.


From the NIHR Dissemination Centre
https://discover.dc.nihr.ac.uk/content/signal-00583/atraumatic-needles-reduce-headaches-following-lumbar-puncture

New Quality standard [QS166] Trauma

New Quality standard [QS166] Trauma
Published date: March 2018  Next review: August 2018


This quality standard covers assessing and managing trauma (complex fractures, non-complex fractures, major trauma and spinal injury) in adults, young people and children. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement.
For full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs166

New Technology appraisal guidance [TA526] Arsenic trioxide for treating acute promyelocytic leukaemia

New Technology appraisal guidance [TA526] Arsenic trioxide for treating acute promyelocytic leukaemia
Published date: 13 June 2018  Next review: June 2021


Evidence-based recommendations on arsenic trioxide (Trisenox) for treating acute promyelocytic leukaemia in adults.
For full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta526

New Technology appraisal guidance [TA525] Atezolizumab for treating locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma after platinum-containing chemotherapy

Atezolizumab for treating locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma after platinum-containing chemotherapy
Published date: 13 June 2018  Next review: June 2021


Evidence-based recommendations on atezolizumab (Tecentriq) for previously treated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma in adults.
For full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta525

New Technology appraisal guidance [TA524] Brentuximab vedotin for treating CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma

New Technology appraisal guidance [TA524] Brentuximab vedotin for treating CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma
Published date: 13 June 2018  Next review: June 2021


Evidence-based recommendations on brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) for treating CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma in adults.
For full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta524

New Technology appraisal guidance [TA523] Midostaurin for untreated acute myeloid leukaemia

New Technology appraisal guidance [TA523] Midostaurin for untreated acute myeloid leukaemia
Published date: 13 June 2018                 Next review: June 2021


Evidence-based recommendations on midostaurin (Rydapt) for untreated FLT3-mutation-positive acute myeloid leukaemia in adults.
For full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta523

New Technology appraisal guidance [TA522] Pembrolizumab for untreated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer when cisplatin is unsuitable

New Technology appraisal guidance [TA522] Pembrolizumab for untreated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer when cisplatin is unsuitable
Published date: 13 June 2018                 Next review: More evidence on pembrolizumab is being collected, until November 2019. After this, NICE will decide whether or not to recommend it for use on the NHS and update the guidance. It will be available through the Cancer Drugs Fund until then, as part of the managed access agreement


Evidence-based recommendations on pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for untreated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma in adults.
for full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta522

New Technology appraisal guidance [TA520] Atezolizumab for treating locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer after chemotherapy

New Technology appraisal guidance [TA520] Atezolizumab for treating locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer after chemotherapy
Published date: 16 May 2018  Next review: May 2021


Evidence-based recommendations on atezolizumab (Tecentriq) for locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer after chemotherapy in adults.
For full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta520

New Interventional procedures guidance [IPG616] Intranasal phototherapy for allergic rhinitis

New Interventional procedures guidance [IPG616] Intranasal phototherapy for allergic rhinitis
Published date: June 2018  Next review: June 2021


Evidence-based recommendations on intranasal phototherapy for allergic rhinitis in adults. This involves using light to reduce inflammation inside the nose.
 For full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg616

New Interventional procedures guidance [IPG615] Low-level laser therapy for preventing or treating oral mucositis caused by radiotherapy or chemotherapy

New Interventional procedures guidance [IPG615] Low-level laser therapy for preventing or treating oral mucositis caused by radiotherapy or chemotherapy
Published date: May 2018  Next review: this guidance will be reviewed if there is new evidence or safety concerns.




Evidence-based recommendations on low-level laser therapy for preventing or treating oral mucositis caused by radiotherapy or chemotherapy. This involves applying low-energy lasers to the affected tissue.
For full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg615

New Interventional procedures guidance [IPG614] Endoscopic bipolar radiofrequency ablation for treating biliary obstruction caused by cancer

New Interventional procedures guidance [IPG614] Endoscopic bipolar radiofrequency ablation for treating biliary obstruction caused by cancer
Published date: May 2018  Next review: May 2021


Evidence-based recommendations 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.


For full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg614

New NICE Interventional procedures guidance [IPG613] Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty for fetal critical aortic stenosis

New NICE Interventional procedures guidance [IPG613] Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty for fetal critical aortic stenosis
Published date: May 2018 Next review: May 2021


Evidence-based recommendations on percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty for fetal critical aortic stenosis. This involves placing a catheter into the baby’s heart, while the baby is still in the womb. The aim is to help the heart develop properly.


For full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg613

UHCW publication: Safety and feasibility evaluation of tourniquets for total knee replacement (SAFE-TKR): study protocol

Safety and feasibility evaluation of tourniquets for total knee replacement (SAFE-TKR): study protocol
Wall, Peter Dh; Ahmed, Imran; Metcalfe, Andrew; Price, Andrew J; Seers, Kate; et al. BMJ Open Vol. 8, Iss. 4,  (April 10, 2018): e022067.

This study is designed to determine whether a full randomised controlled trial (RCT) examining the clinical effectiveness and safety of total knee replacement surgery with or without a tourniquet is warranted and feasible.


Get full text at http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/4/e022067