A groundbreaking achievement: Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute and Miami Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida, led the nation as the first to offer Epione, a cutting-edge robotic-assisted technology for minimally invasive ablation procedures. This technology has successfully transformed care for countless cancer patients.
For patients like Jose, the battle against renal cell carcinoma is a marathon, not a sprint. Diagnosed in 2006, Jose underwent a complete nephrectomy, removing his entire left kidney. Last year, his journey took another challenging turn when he developed metastatic lesions in the lower lobe of his right lung and pancreas, requiring additional surgeries. But when a lesion appeared in his remaining kidney, surgery was no longer an option.
Facing this new hurdle, Jose’s team at Miami Cancer Institute turned to innovation. They recommended a minimally invasive procedure using Epione, a robotic-assisted technology for percutaneous ablation. Given the tumor type and its location, the team decided that cryoablation would provide Jose with the best possible outcome.
Dr. Ripal Gandhi, a vascular and interventional radiologist with over 15 years of experience, led Jose’s procedure. A global thought leader in minimally invasive therapies, Dr. Gandhi specializes in cutting-edge treatments for cancer, peripheral vascular disease, and more. His expertise and Epione’s advanced technology offered Jose a new path forward in his ongoing fight against cancer.
“The benefits of the Epione robotic system is it allows us to treat patients more precisely, we are able to access lesions which sometimes would take us hours or sometimes we could not treat at all,” shared Dr. Gandhi. “It allows us to treat patients who may have a lot of issues, who might have a lot of comorbidities, who might not be safely placed under anesthesia for a long period of time, where you can treat the patient much faster and do it safely.”
For Dr. Gandhi and his colleagues at Miami Cancer Institute, Epione has been a ‘game-changing technology’.
“When we are doing procedures robotically versus freehand, these procedures are done much faster. It’s really beneficial for everybody; it’s beneficial for the patient as they are under anesthesia for a shorter period of time, and we are able to do more procedures in the room. Patients can have a faster recovery,” adds Dr. Gandhi.
Thanks to this minimally invasive, cutting-edge procedure, Jose has been given a renewed sense of hope and a cancer-free future. He and his family are deeply grateful to Dr. Gandhi and the team at Miami Cancer Institute for their exceptional care. At his most recent follow-up appointment, Jose was thrilled to share that he remains cancer-free, a testament to the power of innovation and expertise in modern medicine.
