UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital is now offering patients a new, minimally invasive option for lung biopsies using a robot-assisted surgical tool. It allows physicians to obtain tissue samples from deep within the lung and potentially diagnose lung cancer earlier. St. Luke’s is the first hospital in Cedar Rapids with this robotic technology.

The Ion Endoluminal Robotic Bronchoscopy System features an ultra-thin, maneuverable catheter that allows navigation far into the peripheral lung, and provides stability and precision needed for biopsy compared to manual techniques.

During bronchoscopy with Ion, the physician uses the controller to navigate to the target along a planned path. The catheter can articulate 180° in any direction to pass through small, difficult-to navigate airways and around tight bends to reach all 18 segments of the lung.

Ion is equipped with a small camera, which gives doctors real time video of the lungs. Once the suspicious lung nodule is reached, the catheter locks in place. A flexible biopsy needle then passes through the catheter to collect tissue.

During biopsy, Ion’s Biopsy Marker feature lets physicians systematically track multiple biopsy attempts and helps visualize different biopsy needle trajectories. If real-time confirmation of a representative tissue sample is available, the physician can redirect subsequent biopsy attempts into the confirmed target area.

“The earlier lung cancer is diagnosed and treated, the greater the chance of survival,” said Hamad Azam, MD, UnityPoint Clinic – Multi-Specialty pulmonologist. “We are proud to offer this potentially lifesaving technology, which will help us offer the best possible patient care.”

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the second most common cancer (not counting skin cancer) and the leading cause of cancer death.

The Ion system is designed to fit easily into a bronchoscopy suite and integrate with existing technologies in St. Luke’s operating rooms.

News editors:

• Video of the machine at St. Luke’s for viewing and downloading >>> https://vimeo.com/723095741/f4f53c14de
• Also including two photos – download links below. One of the Ion Robot at St. Luke’s and another of the UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s team with the robot. Suggested caption for the team picture: UnityPoint Clinic – Multi-Specialty Pulmonologists Drs. Hafiz Hashmi and Hamad Azam, with Respiratory Therapists Monica Farmer and Terra Koelker pose with St. Luke’s Ion robot.
  You can view and download “Ion Robot at St, Luke’s #1.jpg” at: https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:88ec3110-e694-4477-b202-250172c61c97
  You can view and download “St. Luke’s team with Ion Robot.jpg” at: https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:fb810a30-c2a2-448b-a7e5-1791bbd4c951

UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital Heart Care team recently performed its 400th transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The procedure is the most up-to-date technique used for replacing diseased or faulty aortic valves. It is performed via catheter, rather than open-heart surgery, which means it is more comfortable for patients and requires significantly less recovery time. Most patients go home the following day.

St. Luke’s Heart Care first introduced TAVR to the Cedar Rapids area in 2016 and is the only hospital in the state to be recognized with the TAVR Valve Certification by the American College of Cardiology (ACC). Richard Kettelkamp, DO, St. Luke’s interventional and structural cardiologist and heart care services medical director, performed the milestone 400^th procedure alongside Garry Weide, DO, St. Luke’s Heart & Lung Surgery cardiothoracic surgeon.

“Reaching 400 TAVRs is something our team is very proud of,” said Dr. Kettelkamp. “This procedure and others we’ve introduced over the years have allowed us to advance heart care in Cedar Rapids. It also underscores our experience and dedication to patients, which is what we’re all about at St. Luke’s.”

“When TAVR was first approved, it was for patients with severe aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve) who were at prohibitive risk for open-heart surgery,” explained Aref Bin Abdulhak, MD, St. Luke’s interventional and structural cardiologist and medical director of St Luke’s structural heart disease program. “Now TAVR is approved for all surgical-risk categories and is becoming the standard of care for suitable patients. TAVR involves careful planning and coordination between the structural cardiologist, cardiothoracic surgeon, cardiac imaging cardiologists, referring physician and valve coordinators. Part of that discussion includes planning for a second valve, if needed, at the time of the first valve implantation. Training, experience and continuous education matter. We are fortunate at St. Luke’s to have a team of outstanding physicians, nurses and valve care coordinators who put the patient at the center of care.”

As part of its commitment as a leader in providing the most comprehensive and cutting-edge heart care to Eastern Iowans, UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital is investing $25 million in expanding its Heart and Vascular services within the Nassif Heart Center to support the innovation and expertise of the largest group of cardiovascular providers and continue to offer the most advanced heart care in Cedar Rapids.

With over 40 years of leading heart care advancements, St. Luke’s was Cedar Rapids’ first hospital to pioneer open heart surgery in 1978 and has been a leader in bringing the latest and most advanced procedures to the community for better patient care and outcomes. This tradition of innovation and medical firsts will continue for UnityPoint Health’s 32 cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and advanced practice providers who, along with area vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists, offer the most comprehensive heart and vascular services in general cardiology, electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, structural cardiology, vascular procedures, and cardiothoracic surgery.

The multi-million-dollar expansion will consolidate and enhance St. Luke’s heart and vascular capabilities into one comprehensive center, building upon an already strong foundation as the leader of heart and vascular services in Eastern Iowa. The investment and expansion will focus on several areas:

• A second electrophysiology (EP) lab will be added to the Nassif Heart Center. EP procedures correct issues with the heart’s rhythm, for example by providing what is called an “ablation,” which is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat (radiofrequency ablation) or cold (cryoablation) to correct abnormal electrical signals in the heart. This expansion will allow for anticipated growth for these procedures and ensure St. Luke’s heart team is able to build upon its strong expertise in this field of cardiovascular care.

• Relocating and expanding St. Luke’s Vascular and Interventional Radiology Labs. Vascular procedures are used to treat problems affecting blood vessels, such as an aneurysm or other procedures to restore blood flow in blocked arteries or veins. St. Luke’s, in partnership with Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa Vascular Surgery, is also pioneering the use of TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR) to treat patients with carotid artery disease who are at increased risk for open surgery. By expanding the hospital’s lab capacity and technology, the heart and vascular team will be able to better serve Eastern Iowans. This expansion will also include dedicated space for pre- and post-op needs, providing optimal coordination and experience for patients.

• Building a dedicated cardiovascular hybrid operating room (OR), which will allow for more complex, advanced cardiovascular procedures at St. Luke’s. The new hybrid OR will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology to support St. Luke’s multi-disciplinary team of cardiovascular specialists in expanding capabilities and improving patient outcomes. An example of a procedure performed in a cardiovascular hybrid operating room is transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), which is a procedure to replace a diseased aortic valve. St. Luke’s was the first to bring this procedure to Cedar Rapids in 2016 and is the first and only hospital in the state that has earned TAVR certification from the American College of Cardiology.

St. Luke’s Nassif Heart Center originally opened in 2000 and, at 98,000 square feet, is the largest and most comprehensive heart center in the area. Two years ago, St. Luke’s invested $5 million in equipment upgrades and renovations to patient rooms.

“St. Luke’s Heart Care is a long-time leader and innovator in offering complex, specialized cardiovascular care in Eastern Iowa,” said Richard Kettelkamp, DO, St. Luke’s Heart Care interventional cardiologist and medical director of cardiovascular services. “Our heart team is proud of this reputation, takes pride in this distinction and considers it our responsibility to continue to offer the area’s most advanced cardiac care. We have long been known as Cedar Rapids’ Heart Hospital and this expansion will continue our legacy and commitment to providing exceptional patient care and innovation.”

“Our expansion announcement signifies our commitment to our patients and community in continuing to offer complex, specialized cardiovascular care,” said Michelle Niermann, UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital president and CEO. “We’ve offered exceptional, advanced cardiovascular care for over 40 years, and this is our response to the growing number of patients seeking heart care and needing St. Luke’s unique expertise for advanced heart procedures.”

Over the last 40 years St. Luke’s has been a pioneer introducing the latest heart procedures and treatments. Some of the advanced heart procedures introduced and offered at St. Luke’s in Cedar Rapids include:

• Transcarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR) (2017)

TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR) is used to treat patients with carotid artery disease who are at increased risk for open surgery.

• Watchman for Afib (2017)

This is an alternative to open heart surgery and inserts a device that prevents clots from forming in the heart.

• MitraClip for Mitral Valve Repair (2021)

Catheter-inserted devise used to correct mitral regurgitation (a leaking mitral valve) and doesn’t require open heart surgery.

• Cardiac ablation procedures: These minimally invasive procedures use heat (radiofrequency ablation) or cold (cryoablation) to block the abnormal electrical signals that cause arrhythmia. This helps restore a normal heartbeat—sometimes permanently.

St. Luke’s has been recognized as a Watson Health’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospital six times and is recognized by the American College of Cardiology for “Platinum” performance for Chest Pain and earned the Chest Pain Accreditation.

The expansion will take place within the current Nassif Heart Center at St. Luke’s Hospital and construction is expected to begin Summer 2022. Watch a video about the expansion plans here!

UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital has received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2022. St. Luke’s is one of only 240 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor.

The award recognizes St. Luke’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients and signifies that St. Luke’s has reached an aggressive goal of treating these patients to standard levels of care as outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.

To receive the Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award, St. Luke’s has demonstrated sustained achievement in the Chest Pain  ̶   MI Registry for two consecutive years (2020 and 2021), and performed at the highest level for specific performance measures. Full participation in the registry engages hospitals in a robust quality improvement process using data to drive improvements in adherence to guideline recommendations and overall quality of care provided to heart attack patients.

“It is an honor to award St. Luke’s with the Platinum Performance Award for their valuable national leadership and dedication to meeting comprehensive performance measures in patient care,” said Michael C. Kontos, MD, FACC, chair of the NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Steering Subcommittee, and cardiologist at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. “The receipt of this award indicates that St. Luke’s remains committed to providing top quality, guideline-driven care for heart attack patients. Their success ensures patients are receiving the highest quality cardiovascular care.”

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that over 800,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. A heart attack occurs when a blood clot in a coronary artery partially or completely blocks blood flow to the heart muscle. Treatment guidelines include administering aspirin upon arrival and discharge, timely restoration of blood flow to the blocked artery, smoking cessation counseling and cardiac rehabilitation, among others.

“This accreditation is much-deserved recognition for our exceptional team of health care providers at St. Luke’s,” said Dr. Richard Kettelkamp, UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Cardiology. “We know minutes count when it comes to surviving a heart attack. That’s why our team is constantly raising the bar when it comes to diagnosing and treating heart attacks. We know it could mean the difference between life and death.”

Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry empowers health care provider teams to consistently treat heart attack patients according to the most current, science-based guidelines and establishes a national standard for understanding and improving the quality, safety and outcomes of care provided for patients with coronary artery disease, specifically high-risk heart attack patients.

The American College of Cardiology envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its more than 56,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. For more, visit acc.org.

UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dustin Arnold was recently elected President-Elect of the Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association.

Elections were held during the 123rd Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association’s (IOMA) Annual Conference, which was recently held in Des Moines.

Dr. Arnold is a 1996 graduate of Des Moines University, College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery in Des Moines, Iowa. He completed an internal medicine residency at UnityPoint Health – Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.

The Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association, founded in 1898 and headquartered in West Des Moines and represents osteopathic physicians in Iowa.