HTA is multi-disciplinary field of policy analysis that examines the medical, economic, social and ethical implications of the incremental value, diffusion and use of a health technology in health care.
The term Health Technology refers to application of organised knowledge and skills in the form of devices, medicines, vaccines, procedures and systems developed to solve a health problem and improve quality of life.
Abstract Background Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is the conventional treatment in patients at low or intermediate surgical risk. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a less invasive procedure, originally developed as an alternative for patients at high or prohibitive surgical risk. Methods We conducted a health technology assessment of TAVI versus SAVR in patients with […]
Permanent cardiac pacing using pacemaker implantation is an effective and necessary treatment for patients suffering from atrial fibrillation and bradycardia. In this single technology assessment, we assessed a leadless pacemaker for patients indicated for single-chamber ventricular pacemaker implantation. Through design and novel technology, Medtronic’s ambition is to reduce the rate of complications following pacemaker implantations.
The aim of the present rapid assessment was to summarise the information on the relative effec-tiveness and safety of transcatheter implantable devices for mitral valve repair in adults with chronic mitral regurgitation (MR). Three different transcatheter therapeutic approaches and related devices were considered: leaflet repair with MitraClip® System (Abbott Vascular International), annulus repair with CARILLON® Mi-tral Contour […]
Aortic valvular stenosis, or narrowing of the valve orifice, is a progressive disease that generally affects patients over the age of 65 years in Western countries and is usually caused by degenerative calcification. Aortic stenosis causes increasing resistance against the ejection of blood from the left ventricle towards the aorta. After symptoms appear (dyspnea, angina, syncope), […]
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Insertion – TAVI – is a technique involving the implantation of an artificial valve into a narrowed aortic valve without the need to stop the heart. There are two variants of this procedure. In the first, the artificial valve is inserted through an artery, generally the femoral artery, in which case it is called a «transfemoral TAVI». […]