ION Robotic Bronchoscopy Platform Enhances Lung Cancer Care at Ascension Saint Thomas

Ascension Saint Thomas is proud to announce the expansion of the ION Robotic Bronchoscopy Platforms this month in three Middle Tennessee hospitals.

The state-of-the-art, robotic-assisted navigational bronchoscopy platform advances the possibilities for streamlined, minimally invasive lung cancer care. The healthcare system was the first in Tennessee to acquire the new technology in 2020 and began offering procedures at the West campus. The ION system and the first DaVinci 5 robot system in Nashville at Ascension Saint Thomas West campus are leading the way in early detection and treatment of lung cancer for patients. Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown and Rutherford campuses are receiving ION systems later this month as part of Ascension Saint Thomas continued commitment to cancer care for middle Tennessee.

The ION features an ultra-thin, maneuverable catheter capable of navigating deeper into lung tissue than traditional lung biopsy methods. This is a significant advancement in technology that allows for more precise biopsies by accessing all lung nodules, facilitating faster diagnoses and treatments. With this technology, Ascension Saint Thomas patients can undergo this procedure to identify possible cancerous tumors earlier than ever before.

In addition to the technology’s reach within the lung, the core benefit is that diagnosis and removal of lung cancer may be able to take place at the same time, while the patient is already under anesthesia. This is a critical advancement for lung cancer care and survivorship.

During the procedure, nodules detected in the lungs are immediately analyzed in collaboration with the physician and members of Ascension Saint Thomas’ pathology team. If it is determined that if the nodule is cancerous, it can be removed simultaneously in partnership with a thoracic surgeon. This approach means the patient can learn in the recovery room that the nodule was addressed during the same sedation, allowing them to move immediately to the next phase of care in some cases.

“The traditional pathway to care for patients diagnosed with lung cancer is circuitous and requires many steps to get from the point of incidental finding to the point of treatment,” said Otis B. Rickman, DO, FCCP, DAABIP, the Director of Bronchoscopy and Interventional Pulmonology at Ascension Saint Thomas in Nashville. “Ascension Saint Thomas’ use of this robotic-assisted navigational bronchoscopy offers a much more streamlined approach making it possible to detect and in combination with the DaVinci 5 surgical robot treat our patient’s cancer sooner in a much less invasive manner. This leads to a more positive patient outcome and the patient can begin to recover much faster following surgery.”

Manufactured by Intuitive Surgical Operations, the ION system can document hundreds of measurements per second to create a three-dimensional map of the lungs to guide the physician. It features steerable, flexible instruments that function like a GPS-system, making it possible for pulmonologists to access nodules in the lung with more precision and stability. The procedure is performed with patients in deep sedation in order to minimize movement. The risk for complications is minimal, and patients are typically discharged from the hospital the same day following the procedure.

“Ascension Saint Thomas is dedicated to advancing the frontiers of lung cancer care in Tennessee by integrating the latest robotic technology with our network of world-class physicians and cutting-edge clinical infrastructure,” said Fahad Tahir, President and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas. “Our commitment to innovation ensures that patients receive the highest standard of care, positioning Ascension Saint Thomas as the premier choice for those seeking advanced treatment. The expansion of robotic-assisted navigational bronchoscopy reinforces our role as leaders in lung cancer care, bringing the latest advancements to our nationally recognized program and the Nashville community.”

Ascension Saint Thomas has continuously evolved its care options for patients with lung cancer. The multidisciplinary care team, led by Dr. Rickman and board-certified thoracic surgeon Dr. John F. Lazar, works together to diagnose and treat the patient’s condition using advanced treatment options for a more accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Ascension Saint Thomas specialists are trained in various innovative procedures, including minimally invasive, robotic-assisted and image-guided technology during airway procedures.

A report published by the American Lung Association confirms that someone in the United States is diagnosed with lung cancer every 2.5 minutes, and that 44 percent of those patients are considered “distant stage,” meaning the cancer has spread from the lungs to other organs. These statistics emphasize the importance of early detection so that more lives can be saved.

According to the 2023 American Lung Association’s State of Lung Cancer report, Tennessee has a rate of 70 new lung cancer cases per 100,000 people, which is higher than the national rate of 54.6. Lung cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Tennessee and the most common cause of cancer deaths. Early diagnosis is key to improving the chances of successful treatment, with the five-year relative survival rate for lung cancer nearly tripling when diagnosed at a localized stage compared to a distant stage.