Physicians Perform First-In-Rhode-Island Surgical Duodenal Cancer Procedure

Roger Williams Medical Center’s Drs. Nabil Toubia, a gastroenterologist, Vince Armenio, a medical oncologist, and Abdul Saied Calvino, a surgical oncologist, worked together on this procedure using endoscopic ultrasound guidance to create a path between the blocked portion of the bowel and the stomach, using the new Lumen opposing stent technology that recently became available in the United States.

“This is a great example of the level of multidisciplinary care available at Roger Williams.”
Dr. Vince Armenio

The procedure had no complications and improved the patient’s bowel obstruction symptoms and allowed him to continue his chemotherapy, which he needs to treat his extensive disease.

Dr. Toubia stated, “This case shows how interdisciplinary collaboration between two surgical specialties promotes innovation in improving the care of complex patient diagnoses.”

Dr. Armenio agreed, “This is a great example of the level of multidisciplinary care available at Roger Williams, which means that cancer patients do not have to travel out of state for advanced treatment options.”

“Innovative collaboration has allowed us to offer state of the art procedures to improve the quality of life in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, minimizing surgical morbidity and improving recovery,” Dr. Calvino added.

The Roger Williams Cancer Center, where Drs. Calvino and Armenio work, and the CharterCARE Digestive Disease Program at Roger Williams, where Dr. Toubia specializes in endoscopic services, offer the state’s most comprehensive and sophisticated care for cancer and digestive diseases.