Advanced minimally invasive surgeons in Fort Myers, Florida at Surgical Healing Arts Center are forward thinking and now use Innovative Full Spectrum Endoscopy® Procedure for increased visualization of the stomach and colon.
Our facility is one of the first in the nation to use EndoChoice’s (NYSE:GI) Fuse® endoscope system.
FORT MYERS, Florida. (January 15, 2016) –“Simply, using such highly advanced technology only benefits the patient with a better screening-leading to early detection and saving lives earlier” states Dr. Moses Shieh, D.O., Surgical Healing Arts Center.
Although colonoscopy exams prevent many colon cancer deaths and are the gold standard, for detecting colorectal cancers, the procedure is not completely effective in preventing cancer cases. For this reason, Surgical Healing Arts Center has invested in an innovative technology that allows doctors to see nearly twice the anatomy seen with a traditional, forward-viewing endoscope.
“Colon cancer is one of the most treatable cancers. The best way to cure it is to detect it early. The most effective way to detect and treat at this time is screening colonoscopy. Though not perfect due to limitations of scope view, using latest technology advances in vision systems, the Fuse endoscope system gives us the cutting edge in detecting potential cancer.” Dr. Shieh also states that, “if we can remove even a question concerning possibility of cancer we should.”
Fuse Scope System
The Fuse endoscope system from EndoChoice®, Inc. uses three small cameras at the tip of a flexible GI endoscope. “Unlike standard, forward-viewing endoscopes that use a single camera, the Fuse system lets doctors see nearly twice as much surface area. This gives us the ability to better examine the patient and have earlier detection to save lives.”
“The Fuse endoscope is all about seeing more of the GI tract. It projects the expanded view on three screens to give physicians previously unseen views, such as behind colonic folds and difficult anatomy. We are pleased to offer this important new technology to our community.”
The Fuse system was cleared by the FDA in the U.S. “As an early adopter of the innovative Fuse system, Surgical Healing Arts Center is at the forefront of U.S. healthcare providers offering the best technology, robotics and procedures for detecting colorectal cancers,” said Dr. Shieh. “Our team is proud to be using the new system in our ongoing effort to reduce cancer and provide the highest quality care to our patients.”
In a multi-center trial conducted in the U.S., Europe and Israel, researchers performed a series of colonoscopies comparing standard, forward-viewing endoscopes and the new Fuse® system.
The endoscope used in the first examination was selected randomly. After the first inspection, each patient immediately underwent a second colonoscopy performed by the same doctor, but with the competing endoscope. The 185 patient trials showed standard, forward-viewing endoscopes missed 41% of potentially pre-cancerous lesions, or adenomas, while the Fuse system missed just 7%. Additionally, Fuse found 69% more adenomas when compared to standard, forward-viewing endoscopes. The results of this clinical study were recently published in The Lancet Oncology.
“Standard, forward-viewing endoscopes provide up to 170 degrees of forward vision. The advantage of Fuse is that it allows endoscopists to examine twice the anatomy with a wide 330 degree view. This is especially advantageous because adenomas can be missed in difficult to find areas of the anatomy,” said Dr Shieh. “The findings are compelling and support the data from previous studies showing the limitations of standard, forward-viewing endoscopes. EndoChoice’s innovative Fuse technology can dramatically improve the effectiveness of this life-saving procedure. And improving the effectiveness of every procedure we perform here at Surgical Healing Arts Center is what we’re all about.”
Patient scheduling with the new Fuse system is now underway at Surgical Healing Arts Center. More than 15 million colonoscopies are performed across the United States each year and most insurance companies cover the costs for those patients over age 50.