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Although survival rates have improved by 26% in the last five years, lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, claiming the lives of more than 361 people a day.
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Robotic bronchoscopy offers a safer, precise and minimally invasive access for lung nodule sampling, improving early diagnosis and treatment success rates.
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Advanced technology and an innovative collaborative approach are improving lung cancer care at Providence Swedish and helping increase survival rates for people diagnosed with this often deadly disease.
Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, claiming the lives of more than 361 people a day, according to the American Lung Association’s State of Lung Cancer Report.
But there is some good news: The same study found lung cancer survival rates have improved by 26% in the last five years.
Advanced technology and shared expertise deserve a lot of the credit, according to Krupa K. Solanki, M.D., interventional pulmonologist at Providence Swedish Thoracic Surgery – First Hill.
“We’re making tremendous progress in how we diagnose and treat lung cancer, and robotic bronchoscopy is one of the major tools driving that progress,” says Dr. Solanki. “It’s exciting to be part of one of the few teams in the region that can offer patients access to such precise, minimally invasive diagnostic options.”
Bronchoscopy, but better
Traditional bronchoscopy is used to diagnose lung cancer and other conditions affecting the airways or lungs. During the procedure, your doctor uses a very thin, flexible tube with a small camera on one end to examine the inside of your air passages. The tube also contains a small channel to collect tissue samples for a biopsy if the examination reveals areas that need more testing.
Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy uses a thinner and more flexible tube than traditional bronchoscopy. This reduction in the scope’s size provides access to airways that are too tiny to enter using a conventional bronchoscope. Improved access to the periphery of the lung leads to earlier diagnosis, often when lung nodules are first discovered or just beginning to grow, which is when treatment is likely to be most successful.
“Robotic navigational bronchoscopy is a new way to sample lung nodules that otherwise may not have been able to be sampled before. It has really changed the game in terms of biopsying these small nodules with accurate precision,” says Dr. Solanki. “The technology allows us to go inside the lung and biopsy small nodules that interventional radiology often can’t reach from the outside safely, especially if they’re located centrally in the chest.”
The procedure begins with a CT scan that captures multiple images of your lungs. These pictures are used to map a precise path to the lung nodules being examined.
“We create a virtual roadmap through your airways before the procedure starts,” says Dr. Solanki. “With robotic bronchoscopy, we can pinpoint exactly where we need to go and how to get there safely and efficiently. That level of planning increases our success rate and improves patient outcomes.”
Patients are sedated and unconscious during the procedure and will not feel any pain. The physician uses a controller to move the bronchoscope through the lungs to reach the area being examined. A 3-D map of the lungs is projected onto a computer screen, allowing your doctor to see the scope’s precise location in the lungs, where it needs to go, and the best route to get there.
“Basically, it turns into a navigation system, like Google Maps for your lungs, where it tells you ‘Go left, go right, go up, go down,’” explains Dr. Solanki.
In many cases, after completing the bronchoscopy, the doctor may perform another procedure called an endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) bronchoscopy to sample the lymph nodes located near the patient’s airways and lungs. This helps ensure an earlier and more accurate diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. And that often leads to better results because it will allow cancer doctors, radiation doctors and surgeons to deliver the most optimal treatment.
“One of the advantages of choosing robotic bronchoscopy is that we can now sample the lung nodule with the robot and check the adjacent lymph nodes with EBUS under one anesthetic event. Sampling of lung nodules and staging the lymph nodes in the chest with EBUS used to be two separate procedures, and now we can do it all at once. Patients leave the procedure more ready to move onto treatment with both a diagnosis and staging,” says Dr. Solanki.
Advantages of robotic-assisted bronchoscopy include:
- Ability to pre-plan and map the procedure
- Improved precision and control during the procedure
- Increased access to lung nodules in hard-to-reach locations
- Greater flexibility and range of motion
- Reduced risk of a collapsed lung (pneumothorax)
Minimally invasive procedure with few risks
Robotic bronchoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that poses minimal risk for the patient. The bronchoscope could cause a mild cough during and after the procedure, and a sore throat is fairly common when the scope is removed. Most people return home the same day they undergo the procedure and resume normal activities quickly, with few or no restrictions.
Although rare, complications could include:
- Infection
- Spasms of the airways
- A hole in the airway
- Collapsed lung
Who is eligible?
Robotic bronchoscopy is most often used with eligible patients to determine if a lung mass or nodule is cancerous.
“This procedure is ideal for patients who have small or hard-to-reach lung nodules that might be suspicious but are difficult to sample through other means,” says Dr. Solanki. “It allows us to get the answers we need, which may save putting the patient through a more invasive surgical procedure.”
Integrated care equals precise, effective medicine
Although advanced expertise and leading-edge technology are significant contributors to the high level of lung cancer care available at Providence Swedish, it is the collaboration between specialists that truly sets it apart, says Dr. Solanki.
“Swedish is one of very few institutions, especially on the West Coast, where interventional pulmonology is part of thoracic surgery. This model fosters close collaboration between pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists and other cancer specialists,” he explains.
“At Providence Swedish no procedure is done in isolation. Every intervention is tied to a comprehensive care plan personalized to each patient and developed by the team.”
Learn more and find a physician or advanced practice clinician (APC)
Our team at Providence Swedish Thoracic Surgery uses the latest technology to provide each patient with the best possible outcome.
Our lung cancer experts at the Providence Swedish Cancer Institute can work with you to find the right diagnostics and treatments. We don't just treat your lung cancer, we treat you. To speak with someone or make an appointment, call 1-855-XCANCER.
Whether you require an in-person visit or want to consult a doctor virtually, you have options. Contact Providence Swedish Primary Care to schedule an appointment with a primary care physician. You can also connect virtually with your doctor to review your symptoms, provide instruction and follow up as needed. And with Providence Swedish ExpressCare Virtual, you can receive treatment in minutes for common conditions such as colds, flu, urinary tract infections and more. You can use our provider directory to find a specialist or primary care physician near you.
Information for patients and visitors
Additional resources
Providence Swedish is transforming cancer care and research
Regular lung cancer screenings could save your life
Small cell and non-small cell lung cancer: What you should know.
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care professional’s instructions.
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