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Alison Ann Stickel, PA is in Washington, DC specializing in otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat). Alison Ann Stickel, PA is affiliated with MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Health.
106 Irving Street Northwest Po Box 2700 North
Washington, DC 20010
Biopsy
A biopsy is a procedure performed to remove a small sample of cells for testing. The cells are examined in a laboratory to check for disease, or sometimes to see how badly a known disease is affecting them. Biopsy can be performed on any part of the body.
Although biopsy is most often associated with cancer, it can also be used to check for other diseases, such as infections. A biopsy sample can be scraped, cut, collected with a needle, taken with a machine that punches out a tiny piece, or removed with the tiny tools in an endoscope.
In most cases, a biopsy is a simple outpatient procedure. Depending on the procedure, patients may need to stop taking certain medications beforehand, such as blood thinners. It is important for patients to tell doctors if they are pregnant, as certain biopsies require the use of x-rays to guide the needle to the right location. There is usually very little pain associated with a biopsy. Patients will have to wait a few days to hear the results.
Flap Reconstruction
Flap reconstruction is a surgical procedure in which healthy tissue is taken (or harvested) from one area of the body, called a donor site, and then transferred to a damaged area, or recipient site. The most common types of tissue used in flap reconstruction are skin, muscle, and a combination of skin and muscle, called musculocutaneous tissue. Flaps are like grafts in that they both involve harvesting and transferring tissue, but they differ in one important way. Flaps are placed onto the recipient site with their own blood supply, whereas grafts are not.
Flaps are used to reconstruct large or deep wounds, as well repair physical deformities. For example, some nasal defects can be corrected using forehead flaps. Another common procedure that uses flaps is breast reconstruction, which is surgery to restore the appearance of the breast after mastectomy (breast removal). The ability to use musculocutaneous tissue makes flaps ideal for this type of reconstructive surgery. In addition, the included blood supply in flaps brings needed oxygen and nutrients to the recipient site, promoting healing.
During flap surgery, an enormous amount of attention needs to be paid to the blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries). To retain the flap's blood supply, the surgeon might form a pedicle, which is a bridge of tissue and blood vessels that connects the flap to the site it originates from. The flap is connected to its blood supply through this pedicle. It is removed only after the surgical team has made sure that the flap has healed enough to survive without it. This type of flap is called a pedicled flap.
Blood vessels may also be detached from the flap when it is harvested, and then reattached at the new location. Since the flap is not pedicled to its donor site, it is referred to as a free flap. To be able to connect blood vessels with accuracy, surgeons must use very tiny tools and special microscopes. For this reason, this type of flap reconstruction is also often called microvascular flap surgery. One advantage of free or microvascular flaps is that they are ideal for repairing larger areas, like an extensive wound or defect on the leg.
Depending on how involved a patient's flap reconstruction is, they may have to stay in the hospital for several days after the procedure. It may take six to eight weeks for the incisions to heal, and a year or more for the scars to fully fade.
Thyroid Surgery
Thyroid surgery is a procedure to remove all or part of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the lower neck that regulates the hormones that manage metabolism. Thyroid surgery, also known as thyroidectomy, treats thyroid disorders such as hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), goiters (noncancerous thyroid inflammation), and thyroid cancer. It may also be used to remove thyroid nodules or cysts that have a risk of becoming cancerous.
Both hypothyroidism and goiters are caused by an autoimmune reaction where the body produces antibodies that attack the thyroid cells for unknown reasons. The thyroid reacts by releasing too little or too much T3 and T4 thyroid hormones, impairing thyroid function and causing irregular metabolism. Goiters develop from the autoimmune reaction causing continued antibody damage to the thyroid over time. Thyroid goiters are large, swollen lumps that can be felt near the base of the neck. Obstructive goiters can cause pain, coughing, and abnormal breathing. Hypothyroidism may also be caused by iodine deficiency, as iodine is needed to produce thyroid hormones.
The exact cause of thyroid cancer and thyroid nodules or cysts is unknown. While thyroid cancer and thyroid nodules or cysts can occur in individuals with thyroid disorders, they are not associated with a malfunctioning thyroid.
Physicians may prescribe thyroid surgery if blood tests reveal patients' thyroid stimulating hormones (TSA) are outside of the acceptable range, indicating a malfunctioning thyroid. Thyroid biopsies (tissue samples) and tests for thyroid-attacking antibodies are also criteria for surgery.
An ENT or general surgeon performs thyroid surgery. While a patient is placed under anesthesia, the surgeon makes an incision at the center of the neck and removes the thyroid gland. Two alternative methods of thyroid surgery are transoral (incision through the mouth) and endoscopic, where a surgeon operates a video camera for live footage to help guide the removal process.
Thyroid surgery requires minimal aftercare. Most patients recover quickly and resume normal activities within a few days of surgery. However, thyroid surgery patients must take daily synthetic thyroid medication (levothyroxine) for life to replace their removed thyroid.
Alison Ann Stickel, PA is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Alison Ann Stickel, PA appears to accept the following insurance providers: Aetna Medicare PPO, CIGNA EPO, CIGNA Indemnity, Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS), Medicare Advantage, MAMSI, AARP, HealthSpring, Coventry National Network PPO, Aetna, United Healthcare Choice Plus, Blue Choice, United Healthcare Choice, First Health PPO, TRICARE Prime, United Healthcare, Great-West Healthcare, Medicaid, Cigna, TRICARE, Coventry, Aetna Managed Choice POS, First Health, Aetna HMO, Kaiser Permanente, Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO), MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice, Medicare Fee for Service, Choice Fund PPO, CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO, M.D. IPA (HMO), CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity, Open HMO, M.D. IPA Preferred (POS), POS OA & OA Plus, MedStar Select (MedStar Associates' Plan), Network OA, Innovation Health: PPO, Opoen HMO Option, CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO, CFBCBS EPO, Innovation Health: Indemnity, Innovation Health: POS, CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS), Innovation Health: Open POS Plus, Choice POS & Choice POS II, Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network, HealthyBlue PPO, United Student Resources, CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus), Open EPO Plus, Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus, Open POS II, Innovation Health: POS Plus and PPO and PPO Plus.
According to our sources, Alison Ann Stickel, PA accepts the following insurance providers:
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Ms. Alison Stickel practices otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat). Clinical interests for Ms. Stickel include neck abscess, throat abscess, and nasal obstruction. She appears to be in-network for Blue California, Coventry, and Coventry Health Care Plans, in addition to other insurance carriers. She is professionally affiliated with MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital.