The Management of Post Hysterectomy Vaginal Vault Prolapse ...

APPENDIXClinical guidelines are: ‘systematically developed statements which assist clinicians and patients inmaking decisions about appropriate treatment for specific conditions’. Each guideline is systematicallydeveloped using a standardised methodology. Exact details of this process can be found in ClinicalGovernance Advice No. 1: Guidance for the Development of RCOG Green-top Guidelines (available onthe RCOG website at www.rcog.org.uk/clingov1). These recommendations are not intended to dictatean exclusive course of management or treatment. They must be evaluated with reference to individualpatient needs, resources and limitations unique to the institution and variations in local populations. It ishoped that this process of local ownership will help to incorporate these guidelines into routinepractice. Attention is drawn to areas of clinical uncertainty where further research may be indicated.The evidence used in this guideline was graded using the scheme below and the recommendationsformulated in a similar fashion with a standardised grading scheme.Classification of evidence levelsGrades of recommendationsIaIbIIaIIbIIIIVEvidence obtained from meta-analysis ofrandomised controlled trials.Evidence obtained from at least onerandomised controlled trial.Evidence obtained from at least onewell-designed controlled study withoutrandomisation.Evidence obtained from at least oneother type of well-designed quasiexperimentalstudy.Evidence obtained from well-designednon-experimental descriptive studies,such as comparative studies, correlationstudies and case studies.Evidence obtained from expertcommittee reports or opinions and/orclinical experience of respectedauthorities.ABCRequires at least one randomisedcontrolled trial as part of a body ofliterature of overall good quality andconsistency addressing the specificrecommendation. (Evidence levels Ia, Ib)Requires the availability of well controlledclinical studies but no randomised clinicaltrials on the topic of recommendations.(Evidence levels IIa, IIb, III)Requires evidence obtained from expertcommittee reports or opinions and/orclinical experiences of respectedauthorities. Indicates an absence of directlyapplicable clinical studies of good quality.(Evidence level IV)Good practice poinťRecommended best practice based on theclinical experience of the guidelinedevelopment group.DISCLAIMERThe Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists produces guidelines as an educational aid to good clinicalpractice. They present recognised methods and techniques of clinical practice, based on published evidence, forconsideration by obstetricians and gynaecologists and other relevant health professionals. The ultimate judgementregarding a particular clinical procedure or treatment plan must be made by the doctor or other attendant in the lightof clinical data presented by the patient and the diagnostic and treatment options available.This means that RCOG Guidelines are unlike protocols or guidelines issued by employers, as they are not intended tobe prescriptive directions defining a single course of management. Departure from the local prescriptive protocols orguidelines should be fully documented in the patient’s case notes at the time the relevant decision is taken.The Guidelines review process will commence in October 2010unless otherwise indicated13 of 13 RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 46