KHSC becomes North America’s premier centre for advanced endoscopy procedures

When most people hear the word endoscopy, they think of a small camera that fits down a patient’s throat and is used to examine and diagnose issues in the esophagus or stomach. However, over the last couple of years Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) has become the North American leader in a different type of endoscopy.

Known as ‘third space endoscopy,’ this type of minimally invasive care is dramatically changing the lives of patients in Southeastern Ontario.

‘Third space’ is an umbrella term that covers a whole range of procedures used to treat patients who cannot swallow, or have difficulty swallowing, have cancer in their esophagus or gastrointestinal tract, or who experience serious cases of reflux disease (i.e. heartburn or regurgitation). These procedures are performed at KHSC by Dr. Robert Bechara.

“Our volume has steadily increased, and we are probably doing close to one-hundred procedures per-year. I think on an individual basis, I likely do the most in Canada.” says Dr. Bechara. “Over the last few years our program has really grown and KHSC is the only center to offer the full scope various procedures that fall under the third-space umbrella.”

Dr. Bechara was in fact the first Canadian physician to learn many of these techniques, completing an advanced fellowship in Tokyo, Japan. Patients now travel across the country to Kingston for these procedures, and in turn Dr. Bechara often travels across North America to teach them to doctors in other cities.

“The main benefit of treating these patients using an endoscopic approach is that they can avoid major surgery that would require us to go-in through their stomach or chest,” says Dr. Bechara. “This means they can often be discharged from the hospital the same day, they experience less pain after the procedure and can return to their normal lives much quicker. Not to mention some of these procedures are often proven to have much higher patient success rates.”

“He saved my bacon”

Former KHSC patient Stephen Cameron can speak to the benefits of these procedures first-hand.

His healthcare journey started after he experienced a fall from a ladder outside of his home in the Belleville area and suffered a broken hip. Once he arrived at the hospital in Belleville, lab tests determined that he had prostate cancer, so his care was transferred to KHSC’s Cancer Centre for radiation therapy.

“The team at KGH zapped me with radiation 38 times and were able to successfully treat the cancer,” says Cameron. “Later, I started coughing up blood and when they did a scope back in Belleville, they saw I also had cancer in my esophagus.”

“I was referred to Dr. Bechara back in Kingston and he studied my case, did a scope to look at the cancer and told me, ‘I think I can get that!’ He was very genuine and sincere and it turned out that he was right, he was able to get it out thanks to his expertise.”

For patients like Cameron, esophageal cancer can have a dramatic effect on their quality of life while they undergo treatment. Many are unable to eat and experience significant weight-loss. By offering the minimally invasive surgery via endoscopy, medical teams are able to avoid putting even more stress on the patient’s body as they avoid a more traditional and dramatic surgery.

“I feel great now compared to before the procedure. I couldn’t really eat because the food wouldn’t go down because there was this tumor growing in my esophagus. I am doing so well since my last visit to KHSC, and I can eat anything now. I can even have pizza as an occasional treat. It’s like another life and Dr. Bechara got me here.”

“He really is an exceptional individual and human being. As far as I am concerned, he’s the best person to go to in North America and I was so fortunate for him to take me on as a patient. He certainly saved my bacon. We are so lucky in Eastern Ontario to have him on staff at KHSC.”

Continuing to improve third-space care at KHSC

As KHSC continues to develop this best-in-class program, the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation (UHKF) is working to fundraise to purchase new equipment for Dr. Bechara and his endoscopy team.

Fundraising is now underway to support the purchase new equipment which will allow KHSC to potentially double the number of procedures it can complete each year. To help support the future growth of this program, through donations to the UHKF, visit: Donate - General Donation (akaraisin.com) (select ‘Other Funds’ in the drop down menu and type in ‘Third Space Endoscopy) or contact Abigail McIlquham, Associate Director of Healthcare Advancement for more information.