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E L E C T R O M A G N E T I C N A V I G A T I O N A L B R O N C H O S C O P Y
‘GPS’
for the
Lungs
By Stacie Jones
Lung cancer
is difficult to detect
early and is often not diagnosed
until the disease is in its advanced
stages, which greatly reduces
treatment options and a patient’s
chance of survival. A procedure
newly available at Kootenai Health
could help change that.
Todd Hoopman, M.D., of North
Idaho Lung, Asthma and Critical
Care, is a Kootenai affiliate pro-
vider who specializes in pulmonary
(lung) disease and is now offer-
ing electromagnetic navigational
bronchoscopy (ENB). The ad-
vanced procedure is used to locate
and biopsy abnormal masses in
areas of the lungs that traditional
bronchoscopy can’t reach.
“Navigational bronchoscopy is a
minimally invasive procedure that
reaches difficult areas of the lung
with great precision and accuracy,”
Dr. Hoopman said. “The technique
allows us to access and biopsy
nodules in regions of the lung that
cannot be safely reached with other
methods due to surrounding struc-
tures, blood vessels or lung tissue
affected by emphysema.”
In traditional bronchoscopy, a
thin, lighted tube called a bron-
choscope is used to navigate and
view airways. However, the bron-
choscope is too big to reach some
areas of the lungs. With ENB,
Dr. Hoopman uses a navigation
catheter, advanced imaging soft-
ware and other special tools to
extend beyond the bronchoscope’s
reach into the lungs’ outermost
regions. Dr. Hoopman likens the
procedure to GPS for the lungs.
A C C U R A T E D I A G N O S I S
ENB can be used to evaluate a
variety of lung diseases and is
especially valuable in the accurate
diagnosis of lung cancer.
“This technology gives physi-
cians the ability to more precisely
and accurately diagnose smaller
cancer nodules at an earlier stage,
which can help generate personal-
ized treatment options and improve
survival,” Dr. Hoopman said.
“Too many lung cancers, both
nationally and locally, are diag-
nosed in stages III and IV,” he
added. “This technology gives us
the potential to shift the time of
diagnosis to the more favorable
stages (I and II) and, in turn, save
lives.”
Kootenai Health is the first
hospital system in Idaho to offer
the newest version of the super-
dimension navigation bronchoscopy
system by Medtronic. Dr. Hoop-
man said the addition of the new
technology reflects Kootenai’s
commitment to providing the best
possible care for patients.
“The acquisition of this naviga-
tional bronchoscopy technology
completes Kootenai Health’s diag-
nostic and treatment modalities
for lung cancer and other cancers
of the chest,” he said. “Now
patients can get the comprehensive
care they need here at their local
hospital and not have to travel out
of the area for this cutting-edge
procedure.”
Todd Hoopman, M.D.
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