Baptist Health Paducah offers minimally invasive robotic-assisted lung biopsies with ION technology

PADUCAH, KY (Nov. 26, 2024) –  Early detection of lung cancer saves lives, and Baptist Health Paducah is enhancing diagnostic precision with the innovative ION Robotic Bronchoscopy Platform, for earlier and more accurate lung diagnosis.

The ION uses an ultra-thin, 3.5 mm flexible catheter, that drives robotically anywhere in the lung and uses a "GPS" navigational system, going through the nose or mouth and through narrow airways in the lung to the lesion. Its purpose is to diagnose lung cancer by getting to small peripheral lung nodules where lung cancer begins. Finding lung cancer earlier when it's small and treatable, greatly increases survivability.

Once the abnormal nodule is reached, the catheter is locked into place and a needle collects tissue from the mass or nodule to test if it is malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous). The outpatient procedure, performed under general anesthesia, takes one to two hours. Patients usually go home the same day, with some soreness or numbness in the mouth and throat.

The robotic approach is beneficial for those with other health concerns, such as severe lung disease or active smoking, both of which can increase infection risk or other rare complications associated with more traditional biopsy options.

ION is made by Intuitive, the company that makes the da Vinci surgical system, and is built on more than two decades of expertise and innovation in robotic-assisted technology.

For more information about this new technology, talk with your primary care provider or to make an appointment with a Baptist Health Medical Group primary care provider, visit www.baptisthealth.com.

View a video of Dr. Keith Kelly discussing ION robotic navigational bronchoscopy.