Mount Carmel’s use of Bronchial Thermoplasty (BT) can help many adults with severe asthma that is not well controlled with medications (inhaled corticosteroids and long acting beta agonists). BT delivered by the Alair® System uses thermal energy to reduce the excessive airway smooth muscle responsible for airway constriction in asthma patients – providing long-lasting control in adults with severe asthma.

Performed under moderate sedation as an outpatient procedure, BT involves introducing the Alair catheter into the patient’s lungs through a flexible bronchoscope inserted through the nose or mouth. The catheter delivers controlled radiofrequency energy along the length of the airway walls in 10 second bursts, causing a reduction of the excessive airway smooth muscle.

The procedure is currently performed in 3 treatment sessions, which are routinely scheduled at least 3 weeks apart. A different one-third of the lungs are treated in each session. Sessions last about an hour, and following a period of recovery from the sedation, patients can go about their everyday activities at home.

Call 614-234-LIFE to find out which specialists are currently performing this procedure – and learn whether this new healthcare technology can help treat your asthma.

As medical technology advances, Mount Carmel has added yet another high-tech tool to facilitate cardiac procedures. The Excimer laser is now being used for lead extractions and peripheral vascular interventions at Mount Carmel East. The laser produces pulsed bursts of ultraviolet light energy that facilitate these procedures without damaging the veins or heart. It typically allows faster, less variable procedure times than manual tools alone. The Excimer laser has been in use at Mount Carmel since August 2010. For a referral to a cardiovascular physician, call 614-234-LIFE.

Patients with implanted permanent pacemakers have long been advised to avoid Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans because they could damage the device or harm the patient. That cautionary advice won’t be necessary for patients receiving the Revo MRI™ SureScan® pacing system.

Thanks to advances in medical technology by Medtronic, the Revo pacemaker is the first of its kind designed, tested and FDA-approved for use in MRI scans, and Mount Carmel was the first hospital in the Midwest to implant one.

It’s an important development when you consider the prevalence of medical imaging techniques like MRI and the growing use of electronic implantable devices like pacemakers. And Mount Carmel is pleased to be at the forefront in providing this new healthcare technology. To learn more, call 614-234-8330.

Mount Carmel has invested in a new hospital technology known as the SuperDimension i-Logic System, which uses special electromagnetic software to perform biopsies of tumors deep in the lungs. The machine extends the reach of conventional equipment and enables physicians to diagnose benign and malignant tumors with minimal invasiveness. The i-Logic System provides the ability to detect lung cancer earlier, enhancing treatment options such as CyberKnife for patients. It also minimizes the need for more invasive, surgical procedures sometimes needed to access difficult-to-reach areas of the lungs. This new medical technology has also been used more frequently to place tissue markers commonly used in CyberKnife lung cancer procedures to help the machine track the position of a tumor throughout treatment. As a service of Mount Carmel St. Ann’s hospital, Columbus CyberKnife lung cancer patients will have access to this advanced technology. To learn more call 614-898-8300.