Dr. Michal Senitko
Interventional Pulmonologist
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, MS
Patient Information: 57 y/o, F
Scan Protocol: Veran Inspiration/Expiration CT Scan Protocol
Nodule: 18mm LUL
Target Motion: 32mm
Biopsy Result: Malignant
Instruments Used: Always-On Tip Tracked® Forceps
Conclusion: Stage IIB Adenocarcinoma
“This entire procedure, from pre-case planning to biopsy, was run with the help of vSupport® Connect. This patient had a suspicious left upper lobe nodule. We planned for a staging and navigational bronchoscopy, with Veran SPiN Perc® as an option for a TTNA if we were unable to reach the lesion endobronchially. The procedure was successful with an in-room confirmation of enough tissue for a diagnosis.”
Patient History
This 52 year-old female patient did not have any history of smoking. She was previously diagnosed with hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Due to past recurrent Pneumothoraces, the patient underwent a right upper lobe wedge resection in 2010. On a recent routine chest CT scan, a new 18mm nodule was discovered in the left upper lobe.
Planning
Due to strict hospital policies on vendor representatives during the COVID-19 pandemic, a Veran representative was not allowed on-site to support the procedure. Dr. Senitko fortunately had the ability to utilize vSupport® Connect for the procedure. The vSupport® Team provides real-time clinical support under physician direction and without the need for a representative in the room. Dr. Senitko called vSupport® Connect to assist him with planning. A Veran Clinical Support Specialist remotely connected to the hospital’s SPiN Planning® laptop and guided Dr. Senitko through the planning software. Dr. Senitko segmented the target of interest in the left upper lobe located in the pleural wall.
Procedure
The respiratory staff and Dr. Senitko continued to utilize vSupport® Connect for live support in the procedure. Dr. Senitko first performed endobronchial registration with the Always-On Tip Tracked® forceps. As he maneuvered the bronchoscope, the Clinical Support Specialist through vSupport® Connect remotely accessed the SPiN Thoracic Navigation System® to assist with verbal navigation. The Clinical Support Specialist was also able to engage in live conversation with Dr. Senitko and his team for feedback and guidance. Dr. Senitko quickly navigated to the peripheral target to begin taking biopsies with the Always-On Tip Tracked® forceps. After several samples, rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) confirmed there was enough tissue present for a malignant diagnosis. Final pathology determined a diagnosis of Stage IIB Adenocarcinoma. Thanks to a timely and successful diagnostic procedure with the help of vSupport® Connect, this patient was presented at the institutional multidisciplinary thoracic oncology board and referred to appropriate specialists to deliver a tailored treatment plan.
