Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy for Lung Disease Offered by Baltimore Hospital
Mercy's highly-trained interventional pulmonologist, Dr. Sy Sarkar of The Lung Center at Mercy, is the first in the State to offer robotic-assisted bronchoscopy using the Galaxy System™, an advanced diagnostic option to biopsy lung nodules.
Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy offers distinct advantages, including precise views of the lungs and improved access to particular areas of the lungs.
What is Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy?
Accurately diagnosing a lung nodule is essential to improving lung cancer outcomes. Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure which allows a lung doctor to navigate lung nodules with improved accuracy.
In a robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, an interventional pulmonologist takes a multidimensional CT scan of the patient's lungs. A computer maps the most efficient route through the lung to the pulmonary nodule or mass. The doctor then uses a robotic arm to guide a bronchoscope - a thin, flexible, and maneuverable tube equipped with a camera and light to the site of the lung lesion, where it can be safely biopsied with precision and stability.
The Galaxy System with its proprietary (Tool-in-Lesion Tomography) TiLT+ Technology is the only robotic assisted bronchoscopy system that provides integrated tomosynthesis by incorporating readily available C-arm fluoroscopy. This enables real-time updates when navigating to nodules located in all aspects of the lung and provides tool-in-lesion confirmation for greater confidence of diagnostic success.
The robotic-assisted technology allows the doctor to reach areas of the lungs that are typically too small or difficult to access using traditional bronchoscopy. The robotic arm also provides precise movement, allowing the doctor to accurately direct the bronchoscope around tight turns and hard-to-reach areas of the lungs.
What are the benefits of Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy?
The greatest advantage of robotic-assisted bronchoscopy is that it allows the doctor to access lung nodules that previously required more invasive biopsy or surgery.
It enables the interventional pulmonologist to reach very small nodules in their earliest stages, leading to earlier detection of lung cancer. Additional benefits of robotic-assisted bronchoscopy typically include:
- Real-time navigation and update
- Precise localization of tool in lesion
- Omits the need for a surgical incision
- Performed as a same-day procedure, allowing patients to go home the same day
Why is Mercy the best option for my lung nodule care and diagnosis?
Each patient is unique and requires a customized approach. Mercy's multidisciplinary team evaluates the patient's medical history, diagnosis, and lifestyle to determine the best option.
As lung cancer screening evolves, nodules tend to be smaller and harder to reach; robotic bronchoscopy offers a minimally invasive approach that increases the chance of earlier diagnosis and treatment. By shifting diagnosis to an earlier stage, this increases the chance of overall survival and decreases the need for further invasive procedures.