Photodynamic endometrial ablation

Summary

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on photodynamic endometrial ablation.

The guidance was considered for reassessment in January 2011 and it was concluded that NICE will not be updating this guidance at this stage. However, if you believe there is new evidence which should warrant a review of our guidance, please contact us via the email address below.

Description

This procedure is used to treat heavy menstrual periods, also known as menorrhagia.

Menorrhagia is a very common problem. In 2000/2001, about 45,000 hysterectomies and 17,000 therapeutic endoscopic uterine procedures were carried out in England (Hospital Episode Statistics; ungrossed for missing data; Department of Health). About half of these are likely to be for heavy menstrual bleeding.

Hysterectomy has been the standard treatment for women with menorrhagia that has not responded to medical treatment. Photodynamic endometrial ablation is a new non-hysteroscopic procedure which involves the injection of a photosensitive chemical into the uterine cavity through a hysterosalpingography catheter. A laser is transmitted from a probe inserted through the cervix. This activates the photosensitive chemical, which the destroys the endometrium.

OPCS4.6 Code(s):

Q16.6 Photodynamic ablation of endometrium

_{The NHS Classifications Service of NHS Connecting for Health is the central definitive source for clinical coding guidance and determines the coding standards associated with the classifications (OPCS-4 and ICD-10) to be used across the NHS.   The NHS Classifications Service and NICE work collaboratively to ensure the most appropriate classification codes are provided.  www.connectingforhealth.co.uk/clinicalcoding}

Details

Contact details:

Links:

	IPG047 Photodynamic endometrial ablation: guidance (web format)	07 February 2011
	IPG047 Photodynamic endometrial ablation - guidance	16 March 2004
	IPG047 Photodynamic endometrial ablation - information for people considering the procedure, and for the public	16 March 2004
	IPG047 Photodynamic endometrial ablation - Distribution list	30 March 2004
	Interventional procedure consultation document - photodynamic endometrial ablation	25 November 2003
	Overview of photodynamic endometrial ablation	25 November 2003
	Consent - procedures for which the benefits and risks are uncertain	27 November 2003