Southwest Healthcare Temecula Valley Hospital Achieves Regional First in Robotic Lung Cancer Treatment

Patient and Veteran Kipp Petry, with service dog Maggie
Southwest Healthcare Temecula Valley Hospital (TVH) has become the first facility in Southwest Riverside County to successfully diagnose and treat stage 1 lung cancer using a groundbreaking combination of Ion® and da Vinci® robotic technologies. The milestone case involved patient Kipp Petry, whose early-stage lung cancer was detected through a coordinated effort between primary care physician Dr. Curtiss Combs and pulmonologist Dr. David Lee using the Ion robotic bronchoscopy system, and thoracic surgeon Dr. Samer Kanaan performing the da Vinci robotic surgical resection.
"That Ion robot caught this so quick, that's why I'm sitting here now," says Petry. "If it wasn't for this technology, I wouldn't be here. These guys saved my life."
The Ion robotic bronchoscopy platform enables physicians to detect lung cancer at its earliest stages through minimally invasive biopsy procedures. When combined with the da Vinci surgical system, this technology provides patients with advanced diagnostic and treatment options previously unavailable in the region.
"This achievement demonstrates our commitment to bringing cutting-edge medical technology to our community," says Hong Min, CEO of Temecula Valley Hospital. "Early detection and treatment are crucial in fighting lung cancer, and these robotic systems help make that possible."
Watch Kipp Petry's powerful full video testimony
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