Seaford, DE – TidalHealth, a leader in medical technology innovation and the first to offer surgical robotics on Delmarva, is proud to announce the launch of its state-of-the-art robotic bronchoscopy system, designed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases in Sussex County.
This groundbreaking technology, now in use by team members at TidalHealth Nanticoke in Seaford, Del., offers residents in the region before unavailable precision, high-definition visualization, safety, and efficacy in accessing intricate bronchial passages.
“Robotic bronchoscopy, using the Ion platform, is a technique to endoscopically collect lung tissue samples for biopsy that are suspicious for cancer. This is the most highly accurate, safe, and a less invasive technique using detailed precision to obtain that specific tissue biopsy,” said cardiothoracic surgeon Kurt Wehberg, MD.
TidalHealth is one of just two hospitals regionally using the technology and among only 700 centers in the United States performing robotic bronchoscopy. The team at the Seaford hospital, led by Dr. Wehberg and pulmonologist Ammar Alhaddad, MD, is coming off an extensive training program in Georgia.
The new robotic bronchoscopy system designed by Intuitive, an early adaptor in surgical robotic technology, integrates advanced robotics with real-time imaging, providing physicians with advanced control and maneuverability in sample collection of even the smallest of abnormalities.
“Recent studies demonstrate an accurate diagnostic yield exceeding 85%, with minimal complication rates and tissue damage, reduced discomfort and shorter recovery times for patients,” added Dr. Alhaddad. “This technique supports our lung cancer detection advancements at TidalHealth Nanticoke, and we believe it will become one of the gold standards of care for the early detection of cancer in suspicious lung nodules. We are thrilled to offer this option to our friends in Sussex County through our highly skilled team at our Seaford hospital.”
At TidalHealth Nanticoke, robotic bronchoscopy is being performed in both the endoscopy suite and the operation room with pulmonologists, a specially trained clinical support and nursing team, and lung surgery specialists working together when a patient is referred by their provider with a suspicious nodule that exceeds 8 millimeters in diameter, or roughly the size of a pea.
The system’s sophisticated design allows TidalHealth Nanticoke specialists more accurate navigation through the complex bronchial tree, reaching areas of the lung that were previously difficult to access. This increased precision significantly enhances the ability to diagnose and treat lung conditions, including the early detection of lung cancer.
“TidalHealth Nanticoke physicians, along with our colleagues across the health system, are committed to advancing the fields of thoracic and pulmonary medicine through innovation,” said Dr. Wehberg. “Our new robotic bronchoscopy system represents a significant leap forward in how we approach lung disease diagnosis and treatment in Delaware. TidalHealth continues to empower us to deliver the highest standard of care and improve patient outcomes.”
For more information about the new robotic bronchoscopy system, please speak with your provider or contact Holly Schreiber, CRNP, TidalHealth Nanticoke’s Multidisciplinary Thoracic & Pulmonary Nodule Coordinator, at 302-297-2598.
Cutline: Dr. Ammad Alhaddad performs the first robotic bronchoscopy at TidalHealth Nanticoke.
