Martin Health System | Focused On Exceptional Care | Spring 2019

8 CLEVELAND CLINIC MARTIN HEALTH After being diagnosed with lung cancer in summer 2018, Ed Quinn (above) was fortunate to have video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) with Edward Savage, MD, a Cleveland Clinic cardiothoracic surgeon who had just joined Martin Health System. Second chances: Two A LUNG CANCER SCREENING COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE. Find out if you are a candidate for a low-dose CT lung cancer screening today. Visit martinhealth.org/lung . A TRIP to the emergency room in summer 2018 led to a serious diagnosis for Ed Quinn—but one with a silver lining. It all started when the 76-year- old had a syncopal episode* at his doctor’s office and underwent a series of diagnostic tests. When a chest CT scan detected a spot on his left lung, Quinn saw Corbin Hodder, DO, Cleveland Clinic Martin Health director of pulmonary/critical care medicine, who ordered a lung biopsy. The resulting diagnosis: stage III lung cancer with lymph node involvement. Dr. Hodder knew Quinn would require thoracic surgery and also knew that Edward Savage, MD, a highly experienced cardiothoracic surgeon at Cleveland Clinic in Weston, was transferring to Martin Health System as part of a new cardiovascular affiliation between the two health care systems. “This was the best news for Mr. Quinn,” said Dr. Hodder. “When lung cancer is caught early, it has up to a 90 percent survival rate, and thoracic surgery by an expert surgeon provides the best survival rate and the greatest hope for a normal life.” Quinn visited Dr. Savage in Weston and was able to schedule the surgery in Stuart when Dr. Savage would be at Cleveland Clinic Martin North Hospital. Outstanding results On Sept. 14, Dr. Savage performed video-assisted thoracic surgery, a minimally invasive procedure to remove the cancer in Quinn’s lungs. It is a procedure Dr. Savage has per- formed on countless patients. “With the development of mini- mally invasive approaches, lung cancer surgery has changed dra- matically,” Dr. Savage said. “My philosophy is quite simple and very consistent: I use the smallest and least-invasive operation possible to address lung cancer, and I am com- mitted to outstanding results. With these procedures, patients have less pain, their length of stay is shorter, and their post-discharge recovery is faster.” Quinn’s surgical experience was positive. Following the surgery, he received chemotherapy and radia- tion therapy and is being watched closely by his physicians. “I’m glad we caught this early,” Quinn said. “I have not stepped outside of Martin Health for my medical care, and I’m very happy with the care I received.” *A syncopal episode is a brief loss of consciousness that occurs when the body overreacts to certain triggers. The heart rate and blood pressure drop suddenly, leading to reduced blood flow to the brain. Right place, right time for the best chance of survival SURGICAL INTERVENTION