Medical Breakthroughs

A London youth was the first paediatric patient in Ontario to receive a robot-assisted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) procedure that was performed by the Paediatric Epilepsy Program at Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). LHSC was previously the first in Ontario to robotically perform the SEEG procedure on adult patients, successfully transferring the knowledge and skill set to the specialized team of paediatric neurosurgeons.

A multi-gene panel technology developed by LHSC became available through the global life sciences company LabCorp® to perform genetic testing for Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease, epilepsy, and mitochondrial disorders. Availability of these genetic tests outside of Ontario through this licensing agreement will generate revenue for LHSC that can be used to fund further advances in patient care, and will also lead to benefits for patients and care providers as a result of the rich database of genetic biomarkers that will be interpreted and housed by LHSC’s lab. Analysis of that database will allow researchers and clinicians to better understand how different genetic mutations influence disease, with the potential to help inform decisions on the best course of treatment for each patient.

A multi-gene panel technology developed by LHSC became available through the global life sciences company LabCorp® to perform genetic testing for Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease, epilepsy, and mitochondrial disorders. Availability of these genetic tests outside of Ontario through this licensing agreement will generate revenue for LHSC that can be used to fund further advances in patient care, and will also lead to benefits for patients and care providers as a result of the rich database of genetic biomarkers that will be interpreted and housed by LHSC’s lab. Analysis of that database will allow researchers and clinicians to better understand how different genetic mutations influence disease, with the potential to help inform decisions on the best course of treatment for each patient.

Surgeons at LHSC pioneered the use of a new trans-catheter aortic valve in two cardiac surgical firsts. In a Canadian first, a multidisciplinary heart team at University Hospital implanted a device called the Medtronic Pro Valve through a patient’s femoral artery. One week later, a second patient in need of a similar valve replacement underwent a world-first procedure when the Medtronic Evolut Pro Valve was implanted directly through the main aorta. Both procedures avoid the need for open-heart surgery and the extensive recovery that valve replacement surgery requires.

LHSC performed the world’s first robotic assisted aortic valve replacement in patients with aortic valve stenosis, using the da Vinci® surgical system. The procedure was performed by a multidisciplinary team, led by Dr. Bob Kiaii using a tissue valve called the Perceval S Valve from Liva Nova. This new generation valve is a suture-less valve, which facilitates performance of less invasive aortic valve replacement. This marks the first time the da Vinci® robot has been used to perform this delicate procedure on a patient diagnosed with aortic stenosis - a narrowing of the aortic artery due to calcification.

LHSC’s Epilepsy Program became the first in Ontario to perform a robotic-assisted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) procedure, in which electrodes are placed into the brain to map epileptic seizure activity. Once the seizure onset is localized, neurosurgeons can determine whether a good seizure outcome may be possible through brain surgery.

The colorectal surgery team at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) performed the first robotic ventral rectopexy in Canada to treat a condition called obstructive defecation syndrome.

The heart team at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is the first in North America to implant Medtronic’s Engager Valve in a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure.

London Health Sciences Centre’s (LHSC) cardiac surgery program is the first in Canada to use a new suture fastening system during open heart surgery. Using the COR-KNOT System, the surgeon places the device over the suture, squeezes the device handle to crimp a titanium fastener, which securely holds the suture together, and gently tugs the suture to trim away excess suture tails.

On May 12th, 2014 LHSC's cardiac team successfully performed North America’s first ACURATE TA™ transcatheter aortic valve implantation surgery (TAVI).

On September 13th 2013, Dr. Christopher Schlachta became the first to perform a robotic single-site gallbladder removal - or cholecystectomy in Canada. With this procedure, the gallbladder is removed through a single small incision, hidden in the belly button, and patients experience virtually scarless results.

On April 25, Kelly Dickson, from Cambridge, Ontario became the first patient in North America to receive the BONEBRIDGE™ – a bone conduction hearing implant.  The surgery was successfully performed at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) by Dr. Sumit Agrawal and his surgical team. BONEBRIDGE is new technology developed by MED-El Medical Electronics that makes it possible for people with hearing impairments, including conductive and mixed hearing losses or single-sided deafness, to hear a full range of sounds.

The treatment - transurethral magnetic resonance (MR) guided ultrasound ablation for prostate cancer - utilizes a new ablation device that uses thermal ultrasound therapy with real-time MR image guidance to eliminate cancer cells in the prostate gland. This treatment option helps reduce complications post-op and can also benefit patients who have a small amount of cancer that is less likely to spread.

The self-contained Geko™ device is designed to increase blood flow by activating the muscle pumps in the lower leg that return blood to the heart, emulating the blood flow rate normally achieved by walking (up to 70 per cent), without the patient having to move or exert energy. The procedure was performed by LHSC cardiac surgeon, Dr. Bob Kiaii.

Dr. Hernandez-Alejandro performed a procedure formally called an associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for stage hepatectomy, or ALPPS procedure. The surgical first is that both stages of the hepatectomy, or removal of the liver, was completed in the span of one week to ensure that cancer does not spread to other parts of the liver.

On August 22nd, 2012, Dr. Lorne Gula and Dr. Jaimie Manlucu became the first in Canada to use a pressure sensing catheter to perform a pulmonary vein ablation for atrial fibrillation at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). During a pulmonary vein ablation the physician eliminates abnormal heart tissue that causes the electrical system of the heart to “short-circuit” causing irregular heart rhythm. The goal of the procedure is to ensure that the abnormal heart tissue is permanently eliminated.

London Health Sciences Centre's (LHSC) cardiac surgery team successfully performed an emergency surgery to repair a hole in a patient’s heart caused by a pacemaker complication using the DaVinci robot. Traditionally, this surgery is done via traditional open chest surgery.

This procedure allows a small device to wirelessly transmit information to a system for processing. The information that is sent wirelessly compares the heart’s blood pressure to the body’s blood pressure. If there is a big difference, it signals to the doctor that there is not enough pressure in the heart, which may suggest that there is a significant blockage or narrowing of the artery and could require further medical treatment.

On December 3, 2010 Dr. Anthony Nichols and Dr. Kevin Fung, head and neck surgeons, performed the first robotically assisted and minimally invasive laryngectomy (or the removal of a small portion of the voicebox). This surgery was required to remove a cancerous lesion from the patient’s larynx.

On November 3, 2010, LHSC’s cardiac surgery team led by Drs. Bob Kiaii and Linrui Guo successfully performed an aortic valve bypass using a specialized Aortic Valve Bypass (AVB) device.The Correx AVB device is an implantable surgical device that promises to revolutionize aortic valve bypass surgery by reducing its complexity through a specialized delivery mechanism that renders the surgery almost bloodless, eliminating the need to stop the heart and put the patient on a heart-lung bypass machine.

The Period of PURPLE Crying® program provides important information to parents and caregivers regarding infant crying patterns and comforting strategies, and education on Shaken Baby Syndrome.

The PD unit also, in partnership with Baxter, provides Telehomecare support that monitors your condition and enables early intervention for problems, a first in North America. LHSC is proud to continue at home care to this day.

by removing a small wedge from the patient’s lung and then applying a surgical mesh interwoven with brachytherapy seeds to where the lung was resected. This became another robotically assisted breakthrough at LHSC. 

London Health Sciences Centre became the first hospital in North America to have a robotic-arm neuro-angiogram machine in an operating room. This device is known as The Zeego, it is manufactured by Siemens and is a floor-mounted neuro-angiogram machine designed to take images during surgery.

London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) became the first in North America to implant an insertable cardiac monitor. This cardiac monitor offers long-term and continuous monitoring for atrial fibrillation, the most common cardiac arrhythmia.

This procedure was performed at the hospital on July 30th, 2008, By using the da Vinci® robot, Dr. Schlachta, assisted by Dr. Andreana Bütter, pediatric surgeon, and Dr. Shiva Jayaraman, robotic surgery fellow, were able to reduce the patient’s hospital stay to three days with minimal use of pain medication.

Censitrac software allows medical instruments to be tracked at the individual level. 

The CSTAR surgical team successfully performed Canada’s first totally endoscopic closed-chest robotic coronary artery bypass surgery on a patient’s beating heart at LHSC.

On April 3, 2007, Dr. Schlachta, assisted by Dr. Ward Davies, LHSC's Chief of General Surgery, performed a robotic-assisted common bile duct exploration using CSTAR's da Vinci robot. It was a Canadian first. The use of robotics in Canada has tended to be in cardiac surgery and urologic surgery, making this particular innovation all the more significant for taking place in general surgery.

A team of cardiologists at LHSC's University Hospital became one of the two independent Canadian medical teams to perform the impedance-mapping technology during a pulmonary vein ablation procedure (PVA). 

LHSC became the world's first to perform a robotic procedure that aims to reduce the chance of clot formation and stroke for high risk patients suffering from Atrial Fibrillation (AF). The procedure called a robotic assisted left atrial appendage ligation was performed at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) by an interdisciplinary team of surgeon/scientists from CSTAR (Canadian Surgical Technologies & Advanced Robotics) and Lawson Health Research Institute (Lawson)

Canada's first minimally invasive robotically assisted double bypass surgery, a multi vessel small thorocotomy (MVST), is performed at LHSC. An interdisciplinary team performs the world's first robotic assisted left atrial appendage ligation at LHSC. Surgeons are just a small part of the large team that went into this procedure.

Canada's first minimally invasive robotically assisted double bypass surgery, a multi vessel small thorocotomy (MVST), is performed at LHSC. 

This Procedure was performed on May 31st, 2004, and was made possible using Computer Motion’s AESOP® robotic arm.

in October 2004, an interdisciplinary medical team led by Dr. Bob Kiaii, leader of CSTAR’s Robotic Coronary Artery Bypass research project and cardiac surgeon at LHSC, and Dr. Bill Kostuk, cardiologist at LHSC, were the first in North America to complete two different procedures to clear blocked arteries during the same episode of care.

Revolutionary digital technology to produce detailed fluoroscopic images is used for diagnostic and interventional procedures at LHSC – a Canadian first.