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A health technology assessment of transient elastography in liver disease

Description

Liver disease affects over two million Canadians. Liver biopsy is the current standard of care for diagnosing, staging and monitoring liver disease. It is an invasive procedure associated with a... More ≫

Description

Liver disease affects over two million Canadians. Liver biopsy is the current standard of care for diagnosing, staging and monitoring liver disease. It is an invasive procedure associated with a number of risks including bleeding, hospitalization and death. Transient elastography (TE) is an alternative, non-invasive, method of staging and monitoring liver. The intent of this report is to use current literature to determine the safety, effectiveness, social considerations and cost-effectiveness of TE for the diagnosis, staging and monitoring of liver damage associated with various liver diseases and complications due to liver transplant. The report also reviews the use of TE in paediatric patients, the use of acoustic radiation force imaging, and non-liver applications of TE.

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Double balloon endoscopy\enteroscopy (DBE) for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the small intestine

Description

Double balloon endoscopy/ enteroscopy (DBE) is a non-surgical approach that provides access to the entire inner mucosal surface of the small intestine for endoscopic visual examination, biopsy and... More ≫

Description

Double balloon endoscopy/ enteroscopy (DBE) is a non-surgical approach that provides access to the entire inner mucosal surface of the small intestine for endoscopic visual examination, biopsy and treatment. DBE is being heralded as a breakthrough technology because accessing the deep small intestine endoscopically has largely been unsuccessful by conventional approaches. The purpose of this study was to to review the safety, efficacy and effectiveness of DBE and examine the potential social, fiscal and economic impact should it become a publicly funded health service in Alberta.

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