St. Mark’s Hospital first in Utah to use new treatment of liver tumors
Millcreek/Salt lake city, Utah — MountainStar Healthcare announced a patient at St. Mark’s Hospital has received the state’s first targeted liver tumor treatments utilizing Histotripsy technology. The 325-bed facility and centerpiece of MountainStar Healthcare is the first hospital in Utah to use the new technology.
"Being the first in Utah to offer Histotripsy supports our ongoing mission and commitment to patients; above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life," Matt Hasbrouck, CEO at St. Mark’s Hospital, said.
On February 27, Dr. Iván Zendejas, a transplant hepatologist, performed the clinical treatment on a patient suffering from multiple liver tumors. The patient has been diagnosed with liver cancer.
"I feel honored to have been involved in this first-of-its-kind procedure in the Beehive State," Dr. Zendejas said. "I cannot tell you how meaningful technology like this will be for our patients with liver tumors."
Histotripsy technology uses focused ultrasound waves to mechanically destroy and liquify tumors and/or diseased tissue in the liver, while selectively sparing more collagenous structures such as veins, vessels, ducts and liver capsule.
Medical experts say the technology represents a significant advancement in providing leading-edge surgical care to patients.
"It's revolutionary how we can treat tumors in multiple areas of the liver without invasion, thanks to Histotripsy," Dr. Zendejas added. "To have access to a non-invasive technology that also allows the preservation of surrounding vessels and bile ducts is a game-changer in the treatment of liver tumors. This simply isn’t the case with other surgical and non-surgical options."
The Histotripsy technology allows physicians the ability to monitor the destruction of tissue under continuous real-time visualization and control. The outpatient procedure results in minimal pain for the patient, as well.
Additional information about the world’s first-ever Histotripsy cases.
Learn more about St. Mark’s Hospital.