Memorial Hospital is adding robotic-assisted bronchoscopy to its services to help detect lung cancer earlier and more accurately.
A Nov. 24 news release said there are only four hospitals in Florida and 67 in the U.S. that offer the technology.
Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows for earlier, more accurate detection of lung cancer.
Using a robot, doctors can obtain tissue samples from hard-to-reach nodules in the lung. The release said the technology is safer than CT-guided lung biopsy.
“Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., in part, because it is frequently diagnosed when the cancer is more advanced,” said Dr. Albert Holt, IV Chief Medical Officer of Memorial Hospital, in the release.
“This new technology has the potential to help us to make diagnosis of cancer in its early stages through a safe biopsy procedure. This allows us to treat cancers in their early stages and achieve greater success in curing patients.”
The Memorial bronchoscope offers uninterrupted constant visual scope for the physicians using it, unlike other similar bronchoscopes on the market, hospital spokeswoman Odette Struys said.
It uses a disposable, single-use bronchoscope for each patient.
More than 90% of lung cancer patients don’t survive, the news release said.
“We believe this new technology will be a game changer in the fight against lung cancer,” Holt said.
The HCA Healthcare-owned hospital is at 3625 University Blvd.