IU Health Proton Therapy Center Brings Protons to More Children

Bloomington, IN –The Indiana University Health Proton Therapy Center in Bloomington, Ind., becomes the first proton center in the country to simultaneously treat children under anesthesia in two treatment rooms. Previously, the IU Health Proton Therapy Center could treat one anesthesia case at a time. The increase in the Center's ability to treat additional anesthesia cases makes it possible to deliver this treatment to more children with cancers/tumors of the head, neck, and spine.

The efforts to increase the anesthesia cases would not be possible without the partnership with Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health. "It is unique when world-class organizations work together as we do with Riley Hospital," says Dr. Peter Johnstone, president and chief executive officer of the IU Health Proton Therapy Center and chair and William A. Mitchell professor of radiation oncology for the IU School of Medicine. "Together, we provide an extraordinary resource for the most vulnerable patients: children with cancer." When treating young children with the precision of protons, it is critical that they are immobilized for their treatments and anesthesia is necessary to achieve this level of accuracy. Locally, the anesthesia efforts are provided by Bloomington Anesthesiologists, who are specially trained to work with children. Johnstone adds, "Without their expertise in pediatric anesthesia while under treatment, this work would not be possible."

The IU Health Proton Therapy Center provides treatment for patients of all ages; however, children are at the heart of the practice and accounted for 30 percent of the patient population in 2011. Since opening its doors in February 2004, one in every 12 patients has been treated under anesthesia and that number is anticipated to grow in 2012.