NICE

Arteriovenous extracorporeal membrane carbon dioxide removal – Interventional Procedure Guidance IPG250 (23rd January 2008)
Arteriovenous extracorporeal membrane carbon dioxide removal (AV ECCO2R) is used to treat respiratory failure (in which the lungs do not work effectively) in critically ill patients. The aim is to remove excess carbon dioxide from the blood. The patient will still need to receive oxygen by mechanical ventilation. Blood is drawn from one of the patient's arteries and passed through a synthetic membrane, where carbon dioxide is removed, and the blood is then returned to a vein.
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Mesothelioma – pemetrexed disodium – Technology Appraisal TA135 (23rd January 2008)
Pemetrexed is recommended as a possible treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma in people: with advanced disease; whose cancer is not suitable for surgical resection (removal) and who have a World Health Organization (WHO) performance status of 0 (able to carry out all normal activity without restriction) or 1 (restricted in strenuous activity but able to move around and carry out light work). Healthcare professionals should not stop prescribing pemetrexed for people who were already taking it when the guidance was issued. These patients should be able to carry on taking pemetrexed until they and their specialist decide that it is the right time to stop treatment.
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Guidance on the promotion and creation of physical environments that support increased levels of physical activity – Public Health Programme Guidance PH008 (23rd January 2008)
This guidance offers the first national, evidence-based recommendations on how to improve the physical environment to encourage physical activity. It demonstrates the importance of such improvements and the need to evaluate how they impact on the public's health.
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Psoriasis – infliximab – Technology Appraisal TA134 (23rd January 2008)
This guidance explains when infliximab should be used to treat adults with plaque psoriasis in the NHS in England and Wales.
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Ultrasound-guided catheterisation of the epidural space – Interventional Procedure Guidance IPG249 (23rd January 2008)
The epidural space is surrounding the spinal cord, inside the spinal column. Epidural space catheterisation through the middle or lower back is usually performed as part of anaesthetic techniques, in order to inject analgesic drugs. A needle is inserted into the interspinous ligament and advanced very slowly until there is no longer any resistance to the injection of air or saline, indicating that the tip of the needle is in the epidural space. However, there are at times technical difficulties in achieving this. Ultrasound imaging may be used to help identify the epidural space.
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Understanding NICE Guidance

Consultee Comments

Metastatic malignant disease of unknown primary origin: scope consultation (21st January 2008)
NICE have been asked to develop a clinical practice guideline on Metastatic malignant disease of unknown primary origin for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The draft scope defines what aspects of care the guideline will cover and to whom it will apply. Registered stakeholders for the Metastatic malignant disease of unknown primary origin guideline are invited to submit comments on the scope and may suggest clinical questions that could be answered in the guideline. Closing date for comments is 18th February 2008).
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Hypertension in pregnancy: scope consultation (23rd January 2008)
NICE have been asked to develop a clinical practice guideline on hypertension in pregnancy for use in the NHS in England and Wales. The draft scope defines what aspects of care the guideline will cover and to whom it will apply. Registered stakeholders for this guideline are invited to submit comments on the scope and may suggest clinical questions that could be answered in the guideline. Closing date for comments is 19th February 2008.
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Comments Proforma