MMH to Add New Technology for Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung Disorders
Midland Memorial Hospital is pleased to announce the addition of state-of-the-art technology to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of lung disorders, including inflammation, infections, or cancer. The technology includes two separate components that include Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS), and Peripheral Lung Navigation (PLN).
The primary benefits of EBUS and PLN include the provision of minimally invasive methods for lung biopsies, the ability to biopsy nodules previously inaccessible, and the capacity to catch lung cancer at an earlier stage, resulting in improved outcomes and survival rates.
EBUS is a technique that uses ultrasound to create images of the airways and structures near the lungs. EBUS is often used for diagnosing and staging lung cancer. EBUS has a high diagnostic yield, meaning it’s effective in obtaining accurate and valuable information for the diagnosis and staging of lung conditions, including lung cancer. It helps guide providers in making informed decisions about treatment options. EBUS is generally considered highly effective. Its ability to provide real-time, detailed images of the airways and surrounding structures enhances the accuracy of lung cancer diagnosis and staging. The procedure is minimally invasive, making it a valuable tool with high efficacy in clinical practice. In addition to allowing clinicians to diagnose and treat lung cancer during the early stages, it significantly reduces the risk of complications associated with other modalities.
PLN is a robotic platform that serves a guide for EBUS. PLN utilizes the patients CT scan of the lungs to create a roadmap for the provider to use while navigating to a specific site in the lungs where the biopsy is to be performed. The PLN system’s stability enables the precision needed for biopsy of lung tissue. The PLN system allows the provider to reach small lesions in the far reaches of the lung.
In addition to EBUS and PLN, Midland Memorial Hospital has also obtained a simulation device that provides a platform for the training of hospital staff and providers in the use of the new technology. One major advantage of the simulation platform is it allows the provider to load the patient’s CT into the system and simulate the actual procedure before it is performed on the patient.
This new technology will allow patients to stay close to home and have their care at Midland Memorial Hospital instead of traveling to other healthcare systems which often resulted in delay in diagnosis and treatment and increased cost due to traveling. Midland Memorial Hospital is very excited to add this new technology. It is anticipated the first clinical use will be the first week in January, 2024.