Excela Health

Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS) at Excela Health (continued)

The goal of the cardiac surgery program at Excela is a simple one; combine the latest technology and superior technique in a fashion that results in outstanding clinical results, shorter recovery times, less post-operative pain and less risk for infection for our patients — and yours.

Michael Culig, MD, Director Hiroyuki Tsukui, MD, PhD, Associate Director

Cardiac Surgery

Robotic Pulmonary Segmentectomy at Excela Health

The management of the more than 230,000 patients in the United States who develop lung cancer is evolving with improvements in chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy. However, for most patients who develop early lung cancer, surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment and offers the best opportunity for long-term cure.

Traditionally, surgery for lung cancer involves removal of a significant portion of the lung called a lobe. Unfortunately, many patients with lung cancer also have COPD or emphysema. Undergoing lobectomy for these patients can lead to significant increases in dyspnea and reduction in quality of life.

Operative team performing a robotic segmentectomy

At Excela Health we are able to offer a procedure known as robotic pulmonary segmentectomy for many patients who are diagnosed with early lung cancer. During the procedure only the segment of the lobe that has the cancer is removed, and the rest of the lobe is spared. During robotic pulmonary segmentectomy the tumor is removed along with a smaller portion of adjacent lung, associated pulmonary artery blood vessels and regional lymph nodes. This procedure can be performed minimally invasively through several small incisions using robotic surgical techniques.

This procedure is best reserved for tumors that are less than 2 cm in size. Data show that patients with COPD may be excellent candidates and shortness of breath after surgery may not worsen. 1.0 cm nodule in the superior segment of the left lower lobe

Surgical resection options for lung cancer

Robotic pulmonary segmentectomy is an advanced robotic thoracic surgical procedure that is only offered in specialty centers with comprehensive thoracic surgical programs such as that found within our System.

Last year alone, nearly 600 thoracic surgical procedures were performed at Excela. Many of these procedures were done for the diagnosis, evaluation and management of patients with lung cancer.

Indocyanine green fluorescence (ICG) to display the segmental blood supply of the lung during robotic segmentectomy