A scan has shown a shadow or nodule on your lung. The question — whether it is cancerous or harmless — should not require open surgery to answer, nor months of anxiety while you wait. ION robotic bronchoscopy can reach and biopsy shadows and nodules that no standard technique can get to, privately in London, within days.
A standard bronchoscopy passes a camera down the throat and into the airways of the lung. It works well for nodules or lumps close to the main airways — but many lung nodules, and most of the shadows picked up on CT scans, sit in the outer part of the lung, well beyond where a standard camera can reach. A needle biopsy guided by CT scan can get to some of these areas, but carries a meaningful risk of lung collapse and is less reliable for smaller or awkwardly positioned shadows.
ION is a robotic bronchoscopy system that uses a thin, flexible tube to navigate through the airways to nodules and shadows deep in the outer lung — with a precision that was not previously possible. A real-time tracking system guides the tube continuously. A cone-beam CT scan then confirms it is in exactly the right position before any sample is taken. No cut. No surgical entry to the chest.
A pathologist confirms the sample is adequate while you are still in the procedure room — reducing the chance of an inconclusive result and the need to repeat the procedure.
The result: a clear tissue answer for shadows and nodules that were previously unreachable without surgery.
A shape-sensing tube steers itself through the lung's airways to reach nodules and shadows in the outer lung
A real-time CT scan confirms the tube is in exactly the right position before the biopsy sample is taken
A pathologist confirms the sample is adequate while you are still in the room — fewer repeat procedures needed
No surgical entry to the chest. Performed under general anaesthetic as a day-case or short-stay procedure
Designed specifically for nodules and shadows in the outer part of the lung — previously reachable only by needle biopsy or surgery
London Bridge Hospital introduced the ION system as the first centre in Europe to use it outside clinical trials in routine clinical practice. That institutional commitment — to making the most advanced diagnostic tools available before they become standard — is what makes private access to this pathway genuinely meaningful, not incidental.
Source: HCA Healthcare UK
The GSTT thoracic surgery department — the UK's largest thoracic robotic surgery programme — has now carried out over 900 navigational bronchoscopy procedures. Dr Okiror leads the monthly clinical audit of this programme. That programme-level oversight and institutional infrastructure forms the foundation on which every private diagnostic decision is grounded.
Source: GSTT Thoracic Surgery Monthly Audit
ION bronchoscopy is not a standalone service. It is the diagnostic front end of a complete pathway — from first scan review through to treatment where needed — led by the same consultant throughout, at the same private institutions.
Dr Okiror reviews your CT or PET scan personally. A clear risk assessment and plan are agreed at your first appointment — not delegated, not summarised from a letter.
Where a tissue sample is needed, ION navigates to the shadow or nodule. A CT scan confirms position. The sample is checked in the room. A clear result within days.
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If cancer is confirmed, full staging — including PET scan and specialist review — is arranged without delay. The treatment plan follows the evidence, not a default protocol.
Where surgery is the right answer, da Vinci robotic removal of the affected part of the lung. Same surgeon. Same institution. No handoff, no avoidable delay.
About robotic surgery →One surgeon. One pathway. No fragmentation. Most patients who come to Dr Okiror with a shadow or nodule on their lung do not need surgery. The goal of ION bronchoscopy, when it is needed, is a precise tissue answer — not reflexive intervention. Where surgery is the right next step, it is performed by the same consultant who made the diagnostic decision, with the smallest, least invasive operation appropriate for the situation.
ION bronchoscopy is minimally invasive and generally well tolerated. The main risk is a small air leak around the lung, called a pneumothorax. In the GSTT navigational bronchoscopy programme — one of the UK's busiest — this occurred in around 2% of cases. In every instance it was minor: patients either went home the same day or had a small temporary drain removed the following morning, going home within 24 hours. There were no cases requiring extended hospital stay. Dr Okiror will discuss your individual risk at your consultation before any decision is made.
No. EBUS (endobronchial ultrasound) is a different bronchoscopy technique used to sample lymph nodes and nodules close to the main airways. ION is designed specifically for nodules and shadows in the outer parts of the lung — areas that EBUS and standard bronchoscopy cannot reliably reach. The two procedures serve different purposes and are sometimes used together as part of a complete assessment.
ION is specifically designed for shadows and nodules in the outer parts of the lung — the areas a standard camera bronchoscopy cannot reach. In the GSTT programme, diagnostic success rates of 76% to 89% have been achieved across a range of nodule and shadow sizes. Even for very small shadows under 10mm — some of the hardest to reach by any method — published data shows strong diagnostic results. Whether ION is the right approach for your particular shadow depends on its exact size, position, and appearance on the CT scan, which Dr Okiror will review personally at your first appointment.
ION bronchoscopy is performed under general anaesthetic and is typically a day-case or short-stay procedure. Most patients go home the same day following a period of observation and a chest X-ray. Dr Okiror will advise based on your individual circumstances and any relevant medical history.
No. You can self-refer directly without a GP letter. Most patients are seen for a consultation within 2–3 days of contacting the practice, at which point whether ION bronchoscopy is the right next step — and the full diagnostic plan — are discussed and agreed.
If the biopsy confirms cancer, next steps depend on the type, stage, and characteristics. Where surgery is appropriate, Dr Okiror can proceed to robotic removal of the affected part of the lung — the smallest operation that achieves a complete result. Because the same surgeon performs both the biopsy and any subsequent surgery, there is no handoff to a new team and no avoidable delay in moving from diagnosis to treatment.
No GP referral required. Most patients are seen within 2–3 days at London Bridge Hospital. At your first consultation, Dr Okiror will review your scan personally and advise whether ION bronchoscopy is the right next step for you.
Grace Jones, Private PA ·
020 7952 2882 ·
pa@lungsurgeon.co.uk
London Bridge Hospital · The Lister Chelsea · Canary Wharf · City of London