Riverside is the first health system in the community to offer the Zephyr® Valve Procedure and Ion Robot

Riverside Healthcare knows that receiving a lung cancer or lung disease diagnosis can be scary and even overwhelming, which is why Riverside is proud to revolutionize lung care by now offering the Zephyr Valve and Ion Robot for lung patients.

“We are excited to be the first health system in the community to offer the Zephyr valve procedure and Ion Robot,” says Raju Abraham, MD, pulmonologist and critical care specialist at Riverside. “These innovations reflect our commitment to providing the highest quality of care, close to home for our patients.”

Zephyr® Procedure for Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Emphysema

Patients with severe COPD and emphysema struggle with each breath despite medication and oxygen therapy, and before the Zephyr® Valve, the only options for relief were highly invasive treatments.

Zephyr® Valves received breakthrough device designation and were approved by the FDA in 2018. The Zephyr® Valve treatment helps patients breathe easier and do more without many risks associated with major surgery. The procedure is usually completed in under an hour, allowing patients to enjoy a better quality of life.

Approximately 14 million Americans suffer from COPD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and 3.5 million of those patients have emphysema. Despite using COPD medications, over one million emphysema patients continue to suffer symptoms of hyperinflation, in which air becomes trapped in the lungs and prevents new air from coming in, causing severe shortness of breath.

Breathing becomes inefficient, and patients must work very hard just to breathe, making everyday activities difficult, like walking, eating, or even bathing. There are few treatment options for most patients with emphysema, and there is no cure. Until Zephyr® Valves, the only other options for these patients were highly invasive treatments such as lung volume reduction surgery or lung transplantation.

Ion Robot for Lung Biopsy Patients

Ion by Intuitive is a leading-edge robot that helps physicians obtain lung tissue samples in a biopsy more precisely and easily than traditional methods. This technology also helps patients avoid needing multiple lung biopsies because of the unmatched precision the Ion provides.

“The Ion robot revolutionizes lung biopsies for not only our patients but also our physicians,” said Dr. Abraham. “Riverside's commitment to the latest robotic technology continues to improve the lives of many patients in our community.”

Complete Lung Care

In addition to the Zephyr® valve procedure and Ion Robot, Riverside offers a comprehensive lung cancer screening program to qualifying high-risk individuals.

To qualify for CT lung screening, patients must:

• Be between 50-77 years old
• Be asymptomatic
• Be a current or former smoker (who has quit within the last 15 years)
• Have a smoking pack history of at least 20 pack years (packs smoked per day multiplied by the number of years smoked; for example, one pack per day x 20 years = 20 pack years or two packs per day x 10 years = 20 pack years)

Patients can talk with their primary care provider or call Riverside outpatient scheduling at (815) 935-7531 to learn more about getting a low-dose CT lung screening and see if they qualify.

“Riverside is dedicated to providing top-notch lung care to our patients, right here in our community,” said Riverside President and CEO Phil Kambic.

To learn more about the Zephyr Valve Procedure, Ion Robot, or lung cancer screening at Riverside, click here.