Eperjesiova Bianka, Peterson Jessica, Sriram P S
Pulmonology, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, and Immunology, Malcom Randall Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Gainesville, USA.
North Florida Foundation of Research and Education, Malcom Randall Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Gainesville, USA.
Cureus. 2024 Nov 19;16(11):e74013. doi: 10.7759/cureus.74013. eCollection 2024 Nov.
Lung cancer has high mortality rates attributed to late diagnosis and treatment. Robot-assisted bronchoscopy (RAB) offers promising solutions to these challenges, enabling precise navigation and biopsy of small and difficult-to-reach lung nodules. We present the early outcomes and challenges encountered in establishing an RAB program at a Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center. The experience of establishing infrastructure, the allocation of resources, and forming a multidisciplinary team is discussed. Challenges such as funding allocation, technological integration, and logistical hurdles are addressed. Despite challenges, the successful establishment of an RAB program demonstrates the transformative potential in enhancing diagnostic precision and patient outcomes within a VA hospital, thus providing a blueprint for nationwide adoption. Future directions include expanding procedural capacity through workforce training, leveraging advanced imaging technology, and establishing a training center for other VA RAB teams. The integration of RAB into VA healthcare systems represents advancements in lung cancer care for veterans.
肺癌的死亡率很高，这归因于诊断和治疗的延迟。机器人辅助支气管镜检查（RAB）为这些挑战提供了有前景的解决方案，能够对小的且难以触及的肺结节进行精确导航和活检。我们展示了在一家退伍军人事务（VA）医疗中心建立RAB项目的早期成果和遇到的挑战。讨论了建立基础设施、资源分配以及组建多学科团队的经验。解决了诸如资金分配、技术整合和后勤障碍等挑战。尽管存在挑战，但RAB项目的成功建立证明了在VA医院提高诊断精度和患者治疗效果方面的变革潜力，从而为全国范围内的采用提供了蓝图。未来的方向包括通过劳动力培训扩大手术能力、利用先进的成像技术以及为其他VA RAB团队建立培训中心。将RAB整合到VA医疗系统中代表了退伍军人肺癌护理方面的进步。
