By Kathy L. Collins
Brandon Regional Hospital (BRH) strives to provide cutting edge technology and services to the residents of the greater Brandon area. In keeping with this, BRH is pleased to offer a major addition to its services for patients who have been identified to have a small or inaccessible lesion on their lung.
It is now utilizing Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy (ENB) to access and biopsy lesions deep in the lung.
When an abnormal finding is found in a distant part of the lung, they are often difficult to reach for diagnosis and treatment. This often results in the need for far more invasive treatment which can lead to complications. Moreover, patients with poor lung function may not be able to tolerate the treatment.
“Traditional bronchoscopy frequently fails to reach the outer areas of the lungs which means that more invasive surgical options must be used for diagnosis,” said Daniel G. Lorch, M.D., pulmonologist. “The ENB allows the pulmonologist to locate and identify the lesion with a tattoo so that it can be found by the surgeon in the OR. The surgeon can then see the spot and remove it requiring a lot less surgery,” added Dr. Lorch.
ENB procedure combines GPS-like technology with a catheter-based system that uses the patient’s natural airways to reach the lesion. ENB is typically an outpatient procedure and is capable of assessing the distant regions of the lungs where more than two thirds of all cancers are found.
“We are proud to bring this technology to the community because it further enhances the services we offer to the community,” said Bland Eng, CEO of Brandon Regional Hospital. “News that a spot (lesion) deep in your lung has been found and that a lung biopsy needs to be performed raises more concerns and heightens emotions. It is important to know that you have options close to home,” added Eng.
Regional Hospital is located at 119 Oakfield Dr. in Brandon. For more information, please visit www.brandonregionalhospital.com.
