Lee Health is the First Health System in Southwest Florida to Offer the Single Episode Diagnosis and Resection of Lung Cancer Procedure for Early-Stage Lung Cancer Patients

The robotic procedure combines the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer into one single anesthetic event, saving patients time and allowing for smaller incisions and faster recovery times

Lee Health is thrilled to announce that it is the first in Southwest Florida to offer a single episode diagnosis and resection of lung cancer, which combines the diagnosis and surgical treatment of lung cancer into a single anesthetic event. The Intuitive ION robotic-assisted bronchoscopy platform is used to localize the nodules, and the da Vinci Surgical System is utilized for the minimally invasive lung resection. 

The procedure, which is done by a single surgeon with two different surgical robots, saves the patient time and energy, allowing them to be diagnosed with lung cancer and treated at the same time. Since the procedures are done robotically, it also means much smaller incisions and quicker recovery times.

The procedure is offered for patients with lung nodules that have a high suspicion of being cancerous. A surgical biopsy is sent to a pathologist while the patient is asleep under anesthesia, and if it turns out to be lung cancer, the surgeon can perform an anatomic lung resection during the same operation while the patient is still under anesthesia, causing the patient to take less time off work and less time away from their daily lives to come back at a later date to have their lung cancer surgery. Some patients may be able to be discharged home the same day of their surgery. 

This new offering is a game-changer for early-stage lung cancer patients, because cancer treatments and chances for survival are more successful when the disease is caught early and addressed before it spreads to other parts of the body. 

According to the American Lung Association, only 26.6% of lung cancer cases in the United States are diagnosed at an early stage, when the five-year survival rate is much higher (63%). Unfortunately, 44% of cases are not caught until a late stage, when the survival rate is only 8%.

“This innovative procedure means patients don’t have to wait to get cancerous nodules removed, and any time we can save patients when it comes to a cancer diagnosis is very important,” said cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Mick Eskender. “I am excited to be able to offer this exciting new opportunity to the Southwest Florida community and beyond. It’s going to save patients valuable time in their recovery, and not waiting to schedule a resection will also put patients and their families under far less emotional strain. This procedure is going to make a world of difference for our patients with early-stage lung cancer.”

Dr. Eskender joined Lee Health last year from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where he completed his general surgery residency and cardiothoracic surgery fellowship, which included training in complex heart and lung surgery, including hybrid atrial fibrillation surgery, advanced heart failure and mechanical circulatory support, transcatheter aortic valve replacement, transcatheter endovascular aortic repair, and robotic/minimally invasive lung surgery. 

Dr. Eskender earned his Doctorate of Medicine degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and his bachelors degrees in Biology and Pharmaceutical Science from The Ohio State University.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends yearly lung cancer screening with a low-dose computed tomography (CT scan) if you:

• Are a current or former smoker between 50-80 years old
• Have a 20-pack-year smoking history 

For more information on screenings, early detection, and the single episode diagnosis and resection of lung cancer procedure, please visit www.leehealth.org.