The hospital has performed nearly 900 robotic-assisted surgeries across several specialties in one year and more than 3,000 surgeries since 2017
NEW YORK : NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue announced today that it has performed its 100th robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, a procedure that allows providers to easily obtain and biopsy tissue samples from hard-to-reach areas of the lung to determine if cancer or another disease is present. This minimally invasive procedure helps to diagnose lung disease earlier and helps patients recover faster and with less pain. Bellevue Hospital’s Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine and the Lung Cancer Screening Program recognized this significant milestone during November, which is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
The hospital also recently used robotic-assisted surgery to perform a pediatric urology procedure to repair an obstructed kidney (ureteropelvic junction obstruction) on a 2 ½-year-old child, the first ever performed on a pediatric patient in the municipal health system.
Bellevue Hospital is one of only a few public hospitals in the Northeast using the Ion by Intuitive robotic bronchoscopy platform for lung biopsies. This vital screening tool makes lung biopsy easier, more precise and more accessible to the community we serve and is part of a larger lung cancer detection initiative. Bellevue Hospital’s Lung Cancer Screening Program assesses more than 600 patients a year and has successfully diagnosed and treated 18 cancers since its launch in 2022.
In addition to the Ion system, Bellevue Hospital is home to three Da Vinci Intuitive surgical robots and one ROSA Zimmer Knee System. These helpful bots all reside in the Bellevue Operating Room, where they are used across a variety of specialties including Bariatrics, Gynecology, Colorectal Surgery, Urology, Surgical Oncology, Thoracic, and Orthopedic. They have been used in more than 3,100 surgeries since 2017, with almost 900 procedures in 2024.
“We are proud of our robotic-assisted surgery program, which has steadily grown to serve patients across a number of specialties,” said William Hicks, Chief Executive Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. “This high-tech equipment allows our doctors to perform intricate procedures with more precision and control, and makes it possible for patients of all ages to recover faster and with less pain. Congratulations to our team for performing the 100th robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, a procedure that detects illness and saves lives.”
“The availability of this modern screening and surgical technology in America’s oldest public hospital marks another medical milestone in Bellevue’s continuing mission to make cutting-edge healthcare innovation accessible for all New Yorkers, regardless of their ability to pay,” said Dr. Kerry Hena, Associate Section Chief, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine and Director of Bronchoscopy, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue.
“Robotic bronchoscopy has helped us simplify the process of lung cancer diagnosis. Now we can biopsy multiple lung nodules and perform lymph node staging in a single procedure,” said Dr. Vivek Murthy, FCCP, Site Director, Interventional Pulmonology, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. “Expediting diagnostic workup and shortening time from detection to treatment helps save lives.”
“Our commitment to providing the best care possible includes ensuring our young patients receive the highest standard of treatment available. Recent advancements in technology and the availability of specialized pediatric robotic instruments have enabled us to extend the benefits of robotic-assisted surgery to our youngest patients,” said Dr. Viktor Flores, Pediatric Urologist, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. “Today we can successfully perform robotic-assisted surgery on infants as young as six months old.”
Later this month, the Pulmonary Medicine team will host several events to share information and raise awareness about lung cancer, including a Facebook Live roundtable discussion on November 20, 2024.
About NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue is America’s oldest public hospital, established in 1736. Affiliated with the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the 851-bed hospital is a major referral center for highly complex cases, with 6,000 employees including highly skilled, interdisciplinary clinical staff. The hospital is a Level 1 Trauma Center and annually it sees about 103,000 emergency room visits, and more than 520,000 outpatient visits. Clinical centers of excellence include: Emergency Medicine and Trauma Care; Cardiovascular Services; Bariatric Surgery; Designated Regional Perinatal Center and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Children’s Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program; and Cancer Services. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
