Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West performs first robotic tracheobronchoplasty in Tennessee
Thoracic surgeon Dr. John Lazar at Ascension Saint Thomas in Nashville, Tennessee treated a patient’s severe airway condition with a robotic-assisted tracheobronchoplasty.
At 63-years-old, Carol—a dedicated nurse with over 30 years of experience—has always devoted herself to caring for others in Eastern Tennessee. The tables turned for her in February 2024, when it was her turn to receive care, becoming the first patient in Tennessee to undergo a robotic tracheobronchoplasty, a specialized surgery to restore the natural shape of her airway, at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West. This groundbreaking surgery provides new hope for patients with tracheomalacia, a condition where the walls of the airway collapse and restrict breathing.
A history of managing several chronic conditions
Carol lives in Pigeon Forge in East Tennessee, and her health challenges have been a constant companion. She has long struggled with asthma, immune deficiency, arthritis and steroid dependence. Over the years, she sought the expertise of various doctors in hopes of managing her worsening condition.
In 2021, both Carol and her husband contracted COVID-19. Tragically, her husband passed away, and Carol was left grappling with her own severe pulmonary issues. Later that year, she developed RSV, further deteriorating her respiratory health. Despite trying different treatments, nothing seemed to bring lasting relief.
Treating tracheomalacia to find relief
After years of being treated for asthma, doctors discovered that her trachea collapsed when she exhaled, a key symptom of tracheomalacia. This became a turning point for Carol, when doctors noticed this condition during a bronchoscopy test in the summer of 2023. In September 2023, Carol was referred to Dr. Otis Rickman, an interventional pulmonologist at Ascension Saint Thomas in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Rickman diagnosed her with tracheomalacia after observing her persistent cough. A temporary stent was designed based on her CT scan, then custom printed and placed in her trachea to help inform her doctor of the next steps to treatment, which could include surgery. The stent immediately improved her symptoms, but once it was removed, her symptoms returned.
Dr Rickman referred Carol to Ascension Saint Thomas thoracic surgeon Dr. John Lazar, who proposed a groundbreaking solution: robotic tracheobronchoplasty, a procedure typically offered only in major cities like Chicago, New York or Boston. Carol became the first patient at Ascension Saint Thomas to undergo this advanced surgery.
Advanced robotic-assisted thoracic surgery
On Feb. 13, 2024, Carol underwent a robotic tracheobronchoplasty at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West in Nashville. The surgery was a success, and after a brief hospital stay, Carol continued her recovery at a nearby hotel in order to be under close observation by Dr. Lazar and his team.
Just months after the surgery, her life has transformed. Slowly, she began to stop taking the oral steroids for her pulmonary conditions that had been part of her daily life for so long. Once unable to enjoy simple activities, she now finds herself walking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park—something Carol never thought possible before her surgery. “This has been life-altering,” she said. “I believe they saved my life.”
Learn more about advanced chest and lung care at Ascension.org.
Last updated: November 21, 2024