Via Christi celebrates surgeon’s 1,000th robotic-assisted surgery

Via Christi is celebrating a major milestone in its commitment to delivering advanced robotic-assisted surgical care to the Wichita, Kansas community. Medical co-director of Via Christi’s Lung Nodule Clinic, Brett Grizzell, MD, FACS, has completed his 1,000th robotic-assisted surgery for the treatment of lung cancer. Dr. Grizzell achieved this milestone and also held the position as the medical director of Via Christi’s Lung Screening Program and cardiothoracic surgeon with Wichita Surgical Specialists. 

“Reaching this milestone represents our commitment to leverage the most advanced technology to improve patient care,” said Dr. Grizzell. “It’s remarkable to see how robotic tools have helped us improve treatment outcomes for lung cancer.”

Dr. Grizzell’s robotic-assisted surgical procedures follow the application of a different robotic platform used by the Lung Nodule Clinic. Intuitive's Ion robotic-assisted platform enables the clinic’s pulmonology team to perform minimally invasive biopsies in hard-to-reach areas of the lung. Combined, the two robotic platforms make it possible to detect and treat lung cancer at its earliest, most addressable stage.

Dr. Grizzell added, “With robotic assistance, we can now locate, diagnose and treat lung nodules as small as 5 to 7 millimeters. When lung cancer is caught early and an intervention is made early, treatment is much more effective.”

The Lung Nodule Clinic, located at Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita, Kansas, opened in August 2022 and brings together a multidisciplinary team of lung and cancer specialists to quickly develop and implement treatment plans for patients with potentially cancerous lung lesions. In just one visit to the clinic, a patient can meet with multiple pulmonology, radiation oncology and surgical specialists to get a diagnosis and treatment plan, a process that can often take weeks or months using traditional medical referrals. In its first two years, the clinic has cared for 486 patients.

In addition to its work at the Lung Nodule Clinic, Via Christi provides early lung cancer detection through its Lung Cancer Screening Program. Every year, patients throughout south-central Kansas are referred to the Lung Cancer Screening Program if they meet age and smoking history criteria.

In March 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force lowered the recommended age to begin lung cancer screening from 55 to 50 years. This change, along with a reduction in the minimum pack-year smoking history from 30 to 20, nearly doubled the number of people eligible for screening. By catching tumors at early stages, annual lung cancer screenings can reduce the lung cancer death rate by up to 20%, according to the American Lung Association.

With its continued investment in robotic-assisted surgical platforms, advanced diagnostic technology and a dedication to patient-centered care, Via Christi is committed to providing comprehensive, quality care and treatment for lung cancer. 

“On many fronts, we're continuing to build upon our position as a regional Center of Excellence for treating lung cancer," said Grizzell. 

Don’t delay your annual lung screening. To make an appointment and learn more about Via Christi’s lung cancer care visit the Lung Cancer Screening Program and Lung Nodule Clinic websites, or call 316-268-LUNG (5864).