Adventist Health Glendale Marks Milestone with Robotic Procedure

In a milestone advancement, Adventist Health Glendale in Glendale, California, United States, recently completed its first robotic bronchoscopy. The procedure was performed by Ramyar Mahdavi, a board-certified interventional pulmonologist. This pioneering step highlights the hospital’s commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology to enhance patient care and outcomes, hospital leaders said.

“Robotic bronchoscopy represents a step forward in the field of pulmonary medicine. This minimally invasive procedure is particularly beneficial for diagnosing and treating lung cancer and other conditions in the lungs that are difficult to access using conventional methods,” said Saeid Safaee, pulmonary disease and critical care expert.

Unlike traditional bronchoscopy, which involves manually guiding a flexible tube through the airways to examine and biopsy lung tissues, the Ion robotic bronchoscopy system uses an ultra-thin maneuverable catheter to achieve greater precision and control.

Improved Diagnostic and Therapeutic Options

Integrating robotic technology provides significant benefits in terms of diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. “This level of precision is difficult to achieve with traditional bronchoscopy methods, which can lead to better diagnostic outcomes and more effective treatments,” said Arin Aboulian, pulmonary and critical care subspecialist.

“Robotic bronchoscopy will help improve the accuracy of our diagnoses and allow us to offer more targeted and effective treatments in the future, reducing the need for follow-up procedures. I’m thrilled that we are now able to feature this technology in Glendale,” said Aboulian, who spearheaded the effort to acquire the Ion system.

Patients undergoing robotic bronchoscopy typically experience less bleeding, a reduced risk of infection, a reduced risk of lung puncture, and a quicker return to normal activities than those undergoing traditional bronchoscopy. These benefits are crucial for patients with complex lung conditions or those requiring frequent diagnostic evaluations.

Enhanced Precision and Patient Comfort

The robotic system’s enhanced precision reduces the likelihood of complications and improves the ability to obtain accurate biopsies. Additionally, the procedure’s minimally invasive nature results in less discomfort for patients and shorter recovery times.

“A CT [computed tomography] scan creates a 3D rendering of the patient’s lung, which we use to determine the safest route to the nodule or mass. Then, the robotic arm allows us to maneuver the tight turns and hard-to-reach airways with greater accuracy. In today’s case, the nodule was tucked deep in the right upper lobe,” Mahdavi said.

“Today’s procedure took less than an hour, and the best part is, the patient will be going home before lunchtime,” said Mahdavi, who joined Adventist Health Glendale in July 2024 after establishing the Interventional Pulmonology (“IP”) Program at Keck Medicine of USC.

A Leap Forward in Community Healthcare

The successful integration of robotic bronchoscopy at Adventist Health Glendale is a significant step forward in the quality of care provided to the community. The hospital’s dedication to adopting innovative technologies ensures that patients have nearby access to the latest advancements in care.

“Offering this state-of-the-art procedure allows our patients the convenience of receiving highly advanced clinical intervention without uprooting themselves from where they seek their regular care,” Mahdavi said. “It reflects our ongoing commitment to providing the highest standard of care and embracing new technologies that improve patient outcomes.”

Currently, Adventist Health Glendale is the only Glendale-area hospital utilizing the Ion robotic bronchoscopy system. “The integration of this technology is just another example of our hospital’s dedication to improving health and well-being through innovation,” Safaee said.

The original version of this story was posted on the Adventist Health news site.