Comparing Monarch Versus Ion Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy Platforms: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Medical Technology
• Oncology

Background:

• Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer mortality.
• Early detection significantly improves patient survival rates.
• Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy (RAB) offers advancements over conventional biopsy techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the diagnostic yield and procedural outcomes of the Ion and Monarch RAB platforms.
• To evaluate the efficiency and safety of two leading RAB systems in lung cancer diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• A single-center retrospective study included 365 adult patients undergoing RAB biopsy.
• Patients were divided into two groups: Monarch (N=162) and Ion (N=203).
• Propensity score-matched analysis was used to compare diagnostic yield, procedure duration, radiation exposure, and complication rates.

Main Results:

• The Ion system achieved a higher diagnostic yield (84.2%) compared to Monarch (71.0%) (P=0.003).
• Ion cases showed significantly shorter procedure times, radiation times, and lower radiation dose.
• Lower pneumothorax rates were observed with the Ion system (1.0% vs. 4.3%).

Conclusions:

• The Ion RAB system appears superior to the Monarch system in terms of diagnostic yield and procedural efficiency.
• Ion RAB demonstrated shorter procedure and radiation times with reduced radiation exposure.
• Further randomized controlled trials are recommended to validate these findings.