Postoperative Complications — The Efficacy of Human Acellular Dermal Matrix in the Treatment of Anal Fistula
Citation(s)
Han JG, Xu HM, Song WL, Jin ML, Gao JS, Wang ZJ, Yang XQ Histologic analysis of acellular dermal matrix in the treatment of anal fistula in an animal model. J Am Coll Surg. 2009 Jun;208(6):1099-106. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2009.02.052. Epub 2009 Apr 24.
Song WL, Wang ZJ, Zheng Y, Yang XQ, Peng YP An anorectal fistula treatment with acellular extracellular matrix: a new technique. World J Gastroenterol. 2008 Aug 14;14(30):4791-4.
A Multicenter Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of Human Acellular Dermal Matrix in the Treatment of Anal Fistula
Interventional studies are often prospective and are specifically tailored to evaluate direct impacts of treatment or preventive measures on disease.
Observational studies are often retrospective and are used to assess potential causation in exposure-outcome relationships and therefore influence preventive methods.
Expanded access is a means by which manufacturers make investigational new drugs available, under certain circumstances, to treat a patient(s) with a serious disease or condition who cannot participate in a controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.
