An innovative device for treating anal fistulae has come under the spotlight in a newly-published NICE briefing.
NICE Medtech Innovation Briefings aim to support NHS and social care commissioners and staff who are considering using new medical devices and other medical or diagnostic technologies. The information provided includes a description of the technology, how it’s used, and its potential role in the treatment pathway.
They also include a review of relevant published evidence and the likely costs of using the technology, but they are not NICE guidance and do not make any recommendations on the value of using the technologies. Whether or not to use the products described is entirely the choice of local staff.
However, the briefings will help to avoid the need for organisations to produce similar information, so saving staff time, effort and resources.
The latest Medtech Innovation Briefing to be published is:
- VAAFT for treating anal fistulae (Karl Storz): This is a surgical kit used for treating anal fistulae, It includes a video camera, which allows the surgeon to see inside the anal fistula tract, and an endoscope light to help with locating the internal opening of the tract. The intended place in therapy would be as an alternative to other surgical techniques currently used.
NICE Medtech Innovation Briefings are commissioned by NHS England and produced in support of the NHS 5 Year Forward View, specifically as one of a number of steps that will accelerate innovation in new treatments and diagnostics.
Click here to read the briefing.