(COLORADO SPRINGS) — UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central is utilizing Ion Robotic Bronchoscopy to provide physicians with a more precise method for finding and biopsying small lung nodules. The program, which launched in May, increases diagnostic accuracy for lung nodules to 95%, compared to 75% to 80% for traditional bronchoscopy procedures.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, killing more people than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined and carries an overall survival rate of approximately 30%. However, catching the disease early in stage one or stage two raises survival rates to between 80% and 90%.
The procedure relies on a 3.5-millimeter robotic catheter to navigate deep into lung tissue, allowing physicians to lock the device into place and collect multiple tissue samples upon reaching a target area. Dr. Mario Fadila, a pulmonologist at Pulmonary Associates who performs the procedures at the hospital, described the system as a major advancement in early diagnosis…