In This Section

Publications

R&E ASERNIP-S is an active publisher of peer-reviewed journal articles; for clinicians we have produced significant contributions to the assessment of technologies and techniques within surgery; for fellow researchers we have produced important guidance on methodologies and tools.

On this page

Recent reports

Citations of manuscripts published within the past five years are maintained below, earlier publications are listed in our archive.

Cardiothoracic Surgery

HealthPACT

Sutureless aortic valve replacement in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis Update, March 2017. 

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA), December 2016.

Wireless left ventricular pacing without coronary sinus, December 2016.

Ovation iX abdominal stent graft system, August 2016.

Non-invasive open ventilation system, April 2016.

Mitral valve transapical approach, December 2015.

The RePneu® Coil System and other bronchoscopic lung volume reduction treatments for advanced emphysema, July 2015.

PleurX® catheter system for the treatment of malignant pleural effusion, July 2015.

ZIO® XT Patch for diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmia, March 2015.ROX Coupler for treatment-resistant hypertension, March 2015.

Sutureless aortic valve replacement in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis, November 2014.

Microbial sealant to reduce surgical site infections following cardiac surgery, November 2014.

Drug-eluting stents with CD34 antibodies for the treatment of coronary artery disease, July 2014.

Implantable carotid sinus baroreflex device for the treatment of drug-resistant hypertension (Update), July 2014.

Medical Services Advisory Committee

Lung microwave tissue ablation, September 2016.

PICO Confirmation:  Purified human alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (A1-PI) for the treatment of alpha1-proteinase inhibitor deficiency leading to COPD, April 2018.

Protocol to guide the assessment of magnetic resonance imaging of patients with suspected non-ischaemic cardiomyopathies, May 2015.

Protocol to guide the assessment of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging of patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease, December 2014.

Protocol to guide the assessment of intravascular ultrasound-guided coronary stent insertion, September 2014

Protocol to guide the assessment of transcatheter occlusion of the left atrial appendage for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, June 2014.

 

General Surgery

HealthPACT

LINX reflux management system, August 2016.

SureFire precision chemoembolization Infusion system keeps drugs within liver tumours, August 2016.

CT to reduce negative appendectomy rates, August 2016.

MicroVisualase thermal therapy system: MRI-guided laser ablation of neurologic tumourswave ablation for liver tumours, April 2016.

Microwave ablation for liver tumours, December 2015.

HPV OncoTect™ E6, E7 mRNA assay to guide colposcopy referral in cervical cancer screening, February 2014

Medibank Private Limited

Same-day surgery for femoral, inguinal and umbilical hernia repair in adults (PDF 1.3MB). RACS and Medibank Private Limited, February 2017.

Medical Services Advisory Committee

Protocol to guide the assessment of microwave tissue ablation for primary and secondary lung cancer, January 2016.

Protocol to guide the assessment of microwave tissue ablation for primary and secondary liver cancer, October 2015.

Protocol to guide the assessment of magnetic resonance imaging of liver lesions, December 2014.

Victorian Department of Health

Herniorrhaphy for inguinal and femoral hernia: Review of clinical evidence and guidelines, October 2014.

Centralisation of bariatric surgery: policy implications, March 2014.

 

Neurosurgery

HealthPACT

Monarch external trigeminal nerve stimulation for drug-refractory epilepsy, March 2017.

STAR tumour ablation system Update, March 2017. 

STAR tumour ablation system, December 2015.

Vagus nerve blocking and gastric artery embolisation for obesity, July 2015. 

Miethke proSA® adjustable gravitational shunt for hydrocephalus, July 2014.

Medical Services Advisory Committee

PICO Confirmation: Vagus nerve stimulation for chronic major depressive episodes, December 2017

Protocol to guide the assessment of vagus nerve stimulation therapy for patients with refractory epilepsy, September 2014.

The SAX Insitute

Transcranial magnetic stimulation for major depression and schizophrenia: an Evidence Check brokered by the Sax Institute for the NSW Ministry of Health, 2017.

 

Orthopaedic Surgery

HealthPACT

An enhanced recovery after surgery program for hip and knee arthroplasty, August 2016.

InSpace™ biodegradable subacromial spacer for rotator cuff tears, March 2015.

New and emerging orthopaedic technologies in the Australian and New Zealand public health services, November 2014.

Medibank Private Limited

Rehabilitation pathways following hip and knee arthroplasty (PDF 2.19MB), RACS and Medibank Private Limited, January 2018.

Medical Services Advisory Committee

Vertebroplasty for severely painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures of less than 6 weeks duration, April 2018.

PICO Confirmation: Vertebroplasty for severely painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures of less than 6 weeks duration, May 2016.

The SAX Institute

Amputee care standards: an Evidence Check rapid review brokered by the Sax Institute for the NSW Ministry of Health, 2015.

Victorian Department of Health

Spinal surgery for chronic low back pain: Review of clinical evidence and guidelines, June 2014.

 

Otolaryngology

HealthPACT

Radiofrequency ablation for treating nasal hypertrophy of the inferior turbinates, April 2016.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) for the treatment of tympanic membrane perforation, July 2015.

 

Paediatric Surgery

HealthPACT

Neonatal screening for lysosomal storage disorders, November 2014.

Plastic Surgery

HealthPACT
 

SentiMag® and Sienna+® system for sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer, April 2016.

SentiMag® and Sienna+® for sentinel lymph node localisation in breast cancer, February 2014.

Medical Services Advisory Committee

Intraoperative radiotherapy for early stage breast cancer, January 2017.

Protocol to guide the assessment of foot and ankle services by podiatric surgeons, March 2014.

Protocol to guide the assessment of local anaesthetic nerve blockade for post-surgical analgesia, May 2014.

 

Urology

HealthPACT

Ga-68 prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT (nomination from SA and Vic), August 2016.

 
Ludwig Boltzmann Institut

Prostate artery embolisation for benign prostatic hyperplasia. 2017. Vienna: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Health Technology Assessment.

Medical Services Advisory Committee

mpMRI prostate diagnostic scans, December 2017.

Vascular Surgery

HealthPACT

Endovascular arteriovenous fistula creation systems, March 2017.

Theralite™ for renal failure in patients with multiple myeloma, November 2014

Medical Services Advisory Committee

Assessment of ultrasound guidance for major vascular access and percutaneous neural blockade, January 2014.

 

Other

HealthPACT

Hysterectomy, endometrial ablation and hormone-releasing intrauterine devices for heavy menstrual bleeding, June 2017.

 

MRIdian™ system for MRI-guided radiotherapy, July 2015.

LeGoo® endovascular gel for the temporary occlusion of blood vessels during surgery, November 2014.

Remote presence robots in telemedicine, July 2014.

Online programs for weight loss, February 2014.

Medical Services Advisory Committee

New item numbers and rebates for mobile radiology services, April 2018.

PICO Confirmation:  Emicizumab for routine prophylaxis to prevent bleeding or reduce the frequency of bleeding episodes in patients with Haemophilia A, December 2017.

PICO Confirmation: Obstetric MRI, May 2016.

RACS reports 

Age, performance and revalidation, November 2017.

Concurrent or overlapping surgery, June 2017.

Clinical governance frameworks, May 2017.

Guideline reference document for conducting effective morbidity and mortality meetings for improved patient care, April 2017.

General guidelines for assessing, approving and introducing new procedures into a hospital or health service, February 2017.

Stem cell therapy in surgery, November 2016.

The SAX Institute

Orthotics and prosthetics workforce planning: an Evidence Check review brokered by the Sax Institute for NSW Health, 2015 

Victorian Department of Health

Hysteroscopy for abnormal uterine bleeding: Review of clinical evidence and guidelines, March 2015

The World Health Organisation

Survey of needs for assistive and medical devices for older people in six countries of the who western Pacific region: China, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea and Viet Nam. World Health Organization, 2015.

Systematic review of needs for medical devices for ageing populations, August 2015

Peer-reviewed manuscripts

Cardiothoracic

Scarfe, AJ, Schuhmann-Hingel, S, et al. Continuous paravertebral block for post-cardiothoracic surgery analgesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery. 2016; 50(6):1010-18. PMID: 27242357.

 

General Surgery

Scarfe, A, Duncan, J, et al. Day case hernia repair: weak evidence or practice gap? ANZ Journal of Surgery.  2018; [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 29573102.

Saing, S, Haywood, P, et al. Cost-effective imaging for resectability of liver lesions in colorectal cancer: an economic decision model.ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2017 [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 28982209.

Duncan, J, MA, N, et al. Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI for the characterization of hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. 2017; 45(1):281-90. PMID: 27299482.

Vreugdenburg, T, Ma, N, et al, Maddern, GJ. Comparative diagnostic accuracy of hepatocyte-specific gadoxetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) enhanced MR imaging and contrast-enhanced CT for the detection of liver metastases: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Colorectal Disease. 2016; 31(11):1739-49. PMID: 27682648.

Atukorale, Y, Church, J, et al. Self-expanding metallic stents for the management of emergency malignant large bowel obstruction: A systematic review. Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. 2016; 20(2):455-62. PMID: 26501483.

 

Orthopaedics

Ma, N, Cameron, A, et al. Systematic review of a patient care bundle in reducing staphylococcal infections in cardiac and orthopaedic surgery. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2017; 84(4):239-46. PMID: 28190291.

Thavaneswaran, P & Vandepeer, M. Lumbar artificial intervertebral disc replacement: A systematic review. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2014; 84(3),121-27. PMID: 23869616.

 

Otolaryngology

Vreugdenburg, T, Lambert, R, et al. Stereotactic anatomical localization in complex sinus surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Laryngoscope. 2016; 126(1):51-9. PMID: 26506110.

 

Plastics Surgery

Leopardi, D, Thavaneswaran, P, et al. Autologous fat transfer for breast augmentation: A systematic review. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2014; 84(4), 255-30. PMID: 23656507.

Vreugdenburg, T, Cameron, A, et al. Prostate artery embolisation: poor design and reporting the impact of the value of current systematic reviews. European Urology. 2018; 73(4):642-643. PMID: 29273408.

 

Vascular Surgery

Gurgacz, S, Zamora, L et al. Percutaneous sclerotherapy for vascular malformations: A systematic review. Annals of Vascular Surgery. 2014; 28(5), 1335-49. PMID: 24509373.

 

Other

Forel, D, Marlow, N, et al. Clinical Practice visits: a rapid review. ANZ Journal of Surgery.  2019 Mar 7. doi: 10.1111/ans.15051. [Epub ahead of print]

Vega, C, Gostlow, H, et al. Characteristics of participants who withdraw from surgical simulation-based educational research. BMJ Simulation and Technology Enhanced Learning. 2019; 5:27-31. DOI: 10.1136.

Vreugdenburg, T, Forel, D, et al. Morbidity and mortality meetings: gold, silver or bronze? ANZ Journal of Surgery.  2018; 88 (10): 966-974. PMID: 29430809.

Forel, D, Vandepeer, M, et al. Leaving surgical training: some of the reasons are in surgery. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2018; 88(5): 402-407. PMID: 29411485.

Atukorale, Y, Lambert, R, et al. Stem cell treatments within surgical specialities: what is the evidence? ANZ Journal of Surgery.  2018; 88(1-2):11-12. PMID: 29392912.

Gostlow, H, Vega, C, et al. Do Surgeons React?: A retrospective analysis of surgeons' response to harassment of a colleague during simulated operating theatre scenarios. Annals of Surgery.  2018; 268 (2): 277-281. PMID: 28742690.

Tivey, D, Ma, N, et al. INHTA impact story: legislative and accreditation requirements for office-based surgery in Australia. Strengthening Health Systems Journal.  2017; 33(4):434-41. PMID: 29241476.

Mueller, D, Tivey, D, et al. Health-technology assessment: Its role in strengthening health systems in developing countries. Strengthening Health Systems. 2017; 2(1):6-11. DOI:10.7196.

Ma, N, Duncan, J, et al. Clinical safety and effectiveness of transversus abdominal plane (TAP) block in post-operative analgesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Anesthesia. 2017; 31(3):432-52. PMID: 28271227.

Lambert, R, Vreugdenburg, T, et al. Practical applications of rapid review methods in the development of Australian health policy. Australian Health Review. 2017; 41(4):463-68. PMID: 27467219.

Raju, R, Guy, G, et al. The Australian and New Zealand audit of surgical mortality-birth, deaths, and carriage. Annals of Surgery. 2015; 261: 304-8. PMID: 24646530.

Pena, G, Altree, M, et al. Surgeons and trainees perceived self-efficacy in operating theatre non-technical skills. British Journal of Surgery. 2015. PMID: 25790065.

Pena, G, Altree, M, et al. Nontechnical skills training for the operating room: A prospective study using simulation and didactic workshop. Surgery. 2015; 158(1): 300-9. PMID: 25835218.

Pena, G, Altree, M, et al. Mobile simulation unit: Taking simulation to the surgical trainee. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2015; 85(5): 339-43. PMID: 25901798.

Lin D, Pena G, et al. What are the demographic predictors in laparoscopic simulator performance? ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2015. PMID: 25645288.

Boult, M, Babidge W, et al. Looking back at the John Mitchell Crouch Fellowship: the most prestigious research award of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2015; 85(10): 705-8. PMID: 26183706.

Dawe, S, Pena, G, et al. Systematic review of skills transfer after surgical simulation-based training. British Journal of Surgery. 2014; 101(9), 1063-76. PMID: 24827930.

Dawe, S, Windsor, J, et al. A systematic review of surgical skills transfer after simulation-based training: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and endoscopy. Annals of Surgery. 2014; 259(2), 236-48. PMID: 24100339.

Hoggan, B, & Cameron, A. Systematic review of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of non-neurological soft tissue radiation-related injuries. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2014; 22(6), 1715-26. PMID: 24794980.

Khan, M, Lin, D, et al. Laparoscopic skills maintenance: A randomized trial of virtual reality and box trainer simulators. Journal of Surgical Education. 2014; 71(1), 79-84. PMID: 24411428.

Pena, GN, Altree, M, et al. Surgical simulation training: Mobile and anywhere. Medical Journal of Australia. 2014; 200(3), 180-81. PMID: 24528437.

Tan, SB, Pena, G, et al. Multidisciplinary team simulation for the operating theatre: A review of the literature. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2014; 84(7-8), 5015-22. PMID: 24299531.

Daruwalla, J, Marlow, N, et al. Effect of fatigue on laparoscopic skills: a comparative historical cohort study. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2014; 84(3): 137-42. PMID: 23351016.

Marlow, N, Altree, M, et al. Laparoscopic skills acquisition: a study of simulation and traditional training. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2014; 84(12): 976-80. PMID: 23782685.

Conference presentations and workshops

2018

Ning Ma, Thomas Vreugdenburg, Alun Cameron, Graham Mercer, Lawrence Malisano, David Fletcher, Cathy Ferguson, David Watters, David Rankin, S Bunker, Andrew Barker, Wendy Babidge, and Guy Maddern. Choosing where rehabilitation takes place after hip or knee arthroplasty - in hospital or at home? Choosing Wisely - Canberra.

David Tivey, S Lewis and D Tilden. Evaluation group perspectives on MSAC submissions. ARCS Australia - Sydney.

David Tivey, J Smith and J Reading. Indigenous peoples and health technology assessment, HTAi - Vancouver.

David Tivey, M Jameleddine, V Gallegos, J Wamboga and D Wells. Building partnerships among stakeholders an integral part of HTA: sharing insights and experiences. HTAi - Vancouver.

David Tivey, K Macpherson, Jani Mueller, K Gaitova and J Mayer-Ferbas. The EunetHTA HTA Core Model: A foundation to introduce HTA in resource limited settings, HTAi - Vancouver. 

David Tivey. Adaptation of Health Technology Assessment Reports: An effective way to use limited resources? HTAi - Vancouver.

Thomas Vreugdenburg, Alun Cameron, and Claudia Wild. Poor design and reporting impacts the value of current systematic reviews, HTAi - Vancouver.

Thomas Vreugdenburg, Ning Ma, Anje Scarfe, David Tivey, Alun Cameron, and Guy Maddern. Evaluating reimbursement applications with decision-oriented evidence, HTAi - Vancouver.

2017

Jani Mueller, Davide Croce and David Tivey. Adaptation of checklists and the EUnetHTA Core Model 3.0 for low-resource settings. HTAi - Rome. 

Richard Lander, Robyn Lambert and Alun Cameron. Overlapping surgery: time for explicit guidance. RACS 86th Annual Scientific Congress. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2017; 87(S1):98-106.

Guy Maddern, Yasoba Atukorale, Alun Cameron and Robyn Lambert. Stem cells in surgery - what is the evidence? RACS 86th Annual Scientific Congress. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2017; 87 (S1):98-106.

Thomas Vreugdenburg, Deanne Forel, Nicholas Marlow, Guy Maddern, John Quinn, Richard Lander, and Stephen Tobin. The Guideline Working Group. What influences effective morbidity and mortality meetings? RACS 86th Annual Scientific Congress. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2017; 87 (S1):112-118.

2016

David Tivey, Alun Cameron, Wendy Babidge and Guy Maddern. Introduction to mini-HTA: A Management and Decision Support Tool for the hospital environment. HTAi - Tokyo.

Therese Rey-Conde, John North, Jenny Allen, Peter Wysocki, and Robert Ware. Clinical events in a mortality audit by surgeons assessing their peers. Australian Epidemiology Association scientific meeting - Canberra.

Therese Rey-Conde, John North, Jenny Allen, Peter Wysocki, and Robert Ware. Clinical incidents in surgical patients. PAH researchers week - Brisbane.

2015

David Tivey. Introduction to mini-HTA: A Management and Decision Support Tool for the hospital environment. INAHTA - webinar.

Wendy Babidge. Health Technology Assessment: here today, here tomorrow?South African Health Technology Assessment Society - Johannesburg.

David Tivey, and Jani Mueller. Induction to mini-HTA: A management and decision support tool for the hospital environment. South African Health Technology Assessment Society - Johannesburg.

David Tivey, Jani Mueller, Debashis Basu, Alun Cameron and Wendy Babidge. Establishing a remote Learning-by-Doing framework to build Health Technology Assessment (HTA) capacity. South African Health Technology Assessment Society - Johannesburg,

Wendy Babidge. Using knowledge for the life-cycle management of medical devices. HTAi - Oslo.

Wendy Babidge. International collaboration in HTA: Are we creating harmony or noise? HTAi - Oslo.

Thomas Vreugdenburg, David Tivey, Alun Cameron, Robyn Lambert, Ann Scott, Lynda McGahan, and Guy Maddern. The application of rapid review and mini-HTA methodologies in the development of Australian health policy. HTAi - Oslo.

Thomas Vreugdenburg, Robyn Lambert, Yasoba Atukorale, Alun Cameron, Guy Maddern. Image guidance reduces total, major and orbital complications in complex sinus surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. HTAi - Oslo.

Nicholas Marlow, Linda Mundy, Brendon Kearney, Alun Cameron and Wendy Babidge. New and emerging orthopaedic technologies in the Australian and New Zealand public health services. HTAsiaLink - Taipei.

Robyn Lambert, David Tivey and  Alun Cameron. Health technology assessment: an evidence-based decision-making tool. The INCLEN Trust International Global Lite Meeting - Videoconference to University of Witwatersrand (Johannesburg).

 

Contact R&E ASERNIPS at research.evaluation@surgeons.org or by phone on +61 8 8219 0900

 

Last update: 02/05/2019.

Annual Reports

Research & Evaluation inc. ASERNIPS published a series of Annual Reports from 2014 to 1998.

These reports can be accessed by clicking the respective year below.