Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) in Louisville, Kentucky
Baptist Health Louisville: Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH)
Deep inspiration breath hold is a technique that reduces the dosage of radiation to the heart for left-sided breast cancer patients. Learn more about DIBH.
Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) in Louisville, Kentucky HealthTalks Transcript
Crystal McMahan, MD, Radiation Oncology:
Baptist Health has always been a leader in radiation oncology here in Louisville and the state of Kentucky. Now, with our latest technology allowing us to provide optical surface monitoring and deep inspiration breath hold, we can further benefit our patients, especially those with left-sided breast cancers.
The optical surface monitoring system, or OSMS, uses 3D renderings from the patient’s initial CT simulation on their first marking session day. During the treatment time, this 3D contour is overlaid with real-time 3D simulation of their full contour that is projected from infrared projections, and it allows us to position the patient correctly and precisely. This cuts down on their treatment time every day and decreases their dose from imaging. We do a special technique called deep inspiration breath hold where we have the patient take a deep breath. This, in turn, moves the heart out of the radiation field and reduces the dose to the heart.
OSMS is really a game changer for radiation oncology in my opinion, especially for women with left- sided breast cancers, and is going to help us know that we are treating our patients the most precise and safe way we possibly can. We’re thrilled with this technology here at Baptist Health Louisville, and we see so many young women with left-sided breast cancer. We know they’re going to live a long time, so it gives us great joy to know we can help reduce their long-term side effects.
