Salt Lake Metropolis — Intermountain Well being is the primary well being system within the nation to make use of a brand new modern device that makes use of a 3D laptop mannequin to information surgeons throughout robotic rectal most cancers surgical procedure making the process more practical and correct for most cancers sufferers.
The brand new expertise, referred to as Iris, converts preoperative MRI photographs right into a 3D mannequin that exhibits the anatomy and site of the tumor in relation to different organs and buildings to reinforce the accuracy and effectiveness of the surgical process.
Tae Kim, MD, a colorectal surgeon at Intermountain LDS Hospital in Salt Lake Metropolis, was the primary doctor to make use of the Iris expertise for a rectal robotic surgical procedure.
“The good thing about this expertise is like having a 3D map earlier than you go right into a maze,” stated Dr. Kim. “You’ll know when and the place you will be quick and environment friendly, in addition to when and the place you need to go gradual and consider to be sure to get all of the most cancers.”
Intermountain Well being is now simply certainly one of two well being techniques within the nation – and the one one in Utah – authorized to make use of this new expertise.
For most cancers sufferers, the 3D mannequin helps them higher perceive the complexity of the anatomy and the surgical process. Dr. Kim now makes use of the mannequin for his preoperative visits together with his sufferers to clarify the process.
“It’s a really highly effective device to teach the sufferers and to reassure them that we’ve got a really clear plan,” Dr. Kim stated.
One in every of Dr. Kim’s sufferers who benefited from the expertise was Tom Evans, a 50-year-old schoolteacher from Riverton, Utah.
Evans had been identified with stage three colon most cancers in 2022, and he was now dealing with a recurrence of the most cancers. He had already undergone a spherical of chemotherapy and radiation when he was informed he wanted surgical procedure to take away the tumor.
The brand new 3D expertise allowed Dr. Kim to map out what he would discover in the course of the March 14, 2024, surgical procedure at Intermountain LDS Hospital – and to take away the tumor with excessive precision.
Evans stated he was excited when Dr. Kim informed him, “We obtained the entire most cancers.”
The surgical procedure took 5 hours and concerned utilizing robotics, which required Dr. Kim to take a seat at a pc console to control the robotic arms and consider the 3D photographs.
“Tom, do you care if I nerd out with you for a minute?” Dr. Kim requested him after the surgical procedure.
He then proceeded to indicate him how the most cancers got here very near his bladder and the way the expertise gave him the arrogance and assurance to keep away from damaging it.
“It was exceptional,” Evans stated afterward.
On the time Evans didn’t understand he was making historical past.
“A few month later after my process, Dr. Kim let me know I used to be the primary particular person on the earth to obtain this groundbreaking expertise,” stated Evans. “I used to be shocked, awestruck, and humbled to have the advantages of this process, which did make a distinction.”
With using robotics, restoration time is often shorter, so Evans was capable of return house two days later and is now wanting ahead to getting again to his college students and educating.
Evans can be wanting ahead to extra walks and hikes together with his seven kids, ages 6 to 25.
He stated he’s lucky and blessed to have this expertise obtainable at Intermountain LDS Hospital, which was authorized simply three days earlier than his surgical procedure.
“I’m very grateful and I’m certain the five hundredth particular person shall be grateful too to have a greater high quality of life,” Evans stated.
Evans urges individuals to get screened for colon most cancers, which is commonly undetectable and regarded a silent killer.
“Ensure you get checked, see your physician, and get your colonoscopies,” Evans suggested.
