Before every bronchoscopy, Sandip Saha, MD, BSc (H), plays three rounds of Mario Kart on his Nintendo Switch.
Using the game controller helps the interventional pulmonologist warm up for the robotic procedure ahead through tech guided by hand-held hardware. Once in the operating room, Dr. Saha turns to serious work: extracting lung tissue to evaluate for cancer cells.
Two weeks ago, he introduced leading-edge technology new to Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute (BGMC/GVI): Davinci’s ION Robotic Bronchoscopy platform, in combination with the Siemens CIOS mobile CT scanner. With it, he can find, evaluate and extract tissue samples with more precision than ever before.
“It’s like Google Maps for lung airways,” said Dr. Saha.
That’s a game-changer for patients. The new tech, guided by Dr. Saha, can result in bronchoscopies that are more efficient, less traumatic and highly unlikely to require repeating. Using the 3D spin, he can fully integrate the CT scan while operating in order to achieve pinpoint accuracy of the sample location.
He has also implemented tele-cytology to ensure the tissue sample is adequate. This is where the lab employs a cytotechnologist onsite in the operating room, working via Zoom with cytopathologists across town to evaluate tissue cells under a microscope in real time.
It all adds up to more informed, precise and efficient diagnostics that help streamline care for patients with lung issues, and broadens our ability to detect lung cancer - safer and earlier.