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Dr. Alisa Timashpolsky, MD is a pediatric otolaryngologist in Twinsburg, OH specializing in pediatric otolaryngology (ear, nose & throat). Dr. Alisa Timashpolsky, MD is affiliated with Cleveland Clinic, Twinsburg Family Health & Surgery Center and Cleveland Clinic Main Campus.
8701 Darrow Road
Twinsburg, OH 44087
9500 Euclid Avenue Mail Code A71
Cleveland, OH 44195
Bronchoscopy
Bronchoscopy is a procedure in which a thin tube with a camera, called a bronchoscope, is inserted in the mouth or nose and slowly advanced to the lungs. This allows doctors to see the respiratory tract, which includes the throat, larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), bronchi (airways), and lungs. Doctors may recommend those who have or show signs of lung problems - for example, lung cancer or difficulty breathing - to undergo a bronchoscopy.
In performing a diagnostic bronchoscopy, doctors may only wish to visualize the respiratory tract, or doctors may also collect samples of tissue or fluid. The samples can help diagnose patients' conditions or, if patients have cancer, they can be used for staging purposes. One method for sample collection is bronchoalveolar lavage. In a bronchoalveolar lavage, doctors inject saline (salt water) through the bronchoscope and then suction it out of the airways. The washout collected is tested for lung disorders. Doctors can also insert a biopsy tool to collect tissue or mucus samples. The following are biopsies that can be performed by bronchoscopy:
For visualization, bronchoscopy can be done alone, or it can be combined with ultrasound. Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) allows real-time imaging of the airway and is used for diagnosing and staging lung cancer, as well as for determining where the cancer has spread. EBUS can be performed with TBNA, a procedure known as endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA).
Doctors can also use bronchoscopy as a treatment for lung problems. For example, if a foreign body is trapped in the airway, doctors can insert forceps through the bronchoscope to remove it. If the airway has become narrowed - which may occur if patients have an infection, cancer, or some other inflammatory issue - bronchoscopy can be used to place a device called a stent in the area of constriction. The stent will keep the airway open, allowing the patient to breathe properly.
During a bronchoscopy, patients will be given medication (sedative) to help them relax. If it is only a diagnostic bronchoscopy, patients will be kept awake, but if the bronchoscopy is for therapeutic purposes, patients will be put to sleep by general anesthesia. After the procedure, patients will need to stay in the hospital for a few hours. They will not be able to eat or drink for about 2 hours. Some patients may experience discomfort, such as a sore throat or pain while swallowing. Throat lozenges and gargling may help alleviate these symptoms, which should go away after a few days. Patients will need to have someone drive them home once their doctor determines that they are ready.
Tracheostomy
Tracheostomy or tracheotomy is a surgical procedure to open an airway in a blocked trachea, or windpipe. A small hole is created in the neck, and a tube is often inserted into the hole to provide support and drainage. The patient can breathe through the hole that is created.
Tracheostomy is performed for a variety of reasons when a bypass to the normal airway is needed. A patient may have an object lodged in their throat or have an injury that damaged their windpipe. They may have cancer or a swelling in their throat that stops air from moving freely. Sometimes tracheostomy is performed to make breathing easier when patients are paralyzed or have trouble coming off a ventilator.
A tracheostomy can be temporary or permanent. A temporary tracheostomy tends to heal over easily when the tube is removed, leaving a small scar. A permanent tracheostomy can make speech difficult at first. It takes time to learn how to use the throat and air in a new way.
Tracheostomy is a fairly simple procedure, but it can make all the difference in a life or death situation.
She completed residency at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and Affiliated Hospitals. She is certified by the Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery and has a state license in Pennsylvania.
Residency: SUNY Downstate Medical Center and Affiliated Hospitals (2021)
Board Certification: Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Licensed In: Pennsylvania
Dr. Alisa Timashpolsky, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
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Dr. Alisa Timashpolsky works as a pediatric otolaryngology (ear, nose & throat). In addition to English, Dr. Timashpolsky speaks Russian. These areas are among her clinical interests: nasal obstruction, nasal congestion (stuffy nose), and tracheal stenosis. Her professional affiliations include Twinsburg Family Health & Surgery Center and Cleveland Clinic Main Campus. Dr. Timashpolsky's training includes a residency program at a hospital affiliated with SUNY Downstate Medical Center.