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Dr. Andrei Constantinescu, MD is a pediatric pulmonologist in New York, NY specializing in pediatric pulmonology. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Andrei Constantinescu, MD is affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian and ColumbiaDoctors.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease where the tissue and airways of the lungs become extremely sensitive to certain substances. When these substances are breathed in, the lungs become inflamed. The muscles around the airways tighten and squeeze the lungs, and passages within the lungs swell and tighten. The airways themselves produce mucus, which further clogs the tightened, swollen airways. A person having an asthma attack finds it very difficult to breathe, and a severe attack can even be fatal.
Asthma affects people of all ages, but people with asthma are most often diagnosed as children. Symptoms can include wheezing, a tight feeling in the chest, shortness of breath, and coughing. Some people have mild symptoms all the time, and some people have no symptoms at all, but everyone with asthma is susceptible to occasional severe attacks or flare-ups of symptoms when they are exposed to triggers. Triggers vary widely but can include:
Treatment for most asthma patients involves three steps. Patients learn what their asthma triggers are and avoid them. They take a daily control medication, usually an inhaled corticosteroid, to reduce inflammation in the lungs. Also, they have rescue medication with them at all times to take in case of a severe attack. These quick-acting inhaled medications relax the muscles around the airways and allow the lungs to open up for air.
There is no cure for asthma, but with treatment it should not interfere with daily life and activities.
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.
Lung Issues
Every cell in the body requires oxygen to function and produces carbon dioxide as a waste product. In order to keep the body's tissues constantly supplied with fresh oxygen and to keep waste from building up, the lungs pump air in and out, even while sleeping or unaware. Unfortunately, diseases and disorders affecting the lungs are some of the most common medical problems afflicting people around the world. Some of the most common lung problems include asthma, COPD, pneumonia, and lung cancer.
Asthma is a chronic disease where swollen, inflamed airways make it hard to breathe. It is often brought on by specific triggers. While asthma is a common condition, affecting millions of people, it can also be serious and even fatal in severe cases. Treatment involves avoiding triggers and using inhaled corticosteroid medications.
COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is the name given to two illnesses that both cause difficulty breathing: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In emphysema, the air sacs of the lungs become damaged, while with bronchitis they become clogged with mucus. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. It is almost always caused by breathing irritants into the lungs, such as smoking or heavy pollution.
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by bacteria, a virus, or fungi. Most healthy people recover from pneumonia in a week or two, but for some people pneumonia can be fatal. There are treatments available for pneumonia, but the best treatment is to prevent getting sick in the first place. People who are at risk should make sure they get a flu shot every year. There is also a vaccine available for the type of bacteria that causes pneumonia.
Lung cancer occurs when abnormal cells inside the lung grow into a tumor, destroying healthy tissue. Because it is so difficult to detect lung cancer in early stages when it has few symptoms, it is the deadliest form of cancer, responsible for the most cancer deaths both in the U.S. and worldwide. Most lung cancer is caused by exposure to tobacco smoke, but between 10-15% of cases are not linked to smoking.
Some problems with the lungs are minor and are not cause for concern. However if symptoms have lasted for a month or more, even if they are minor, it is worth checking with a healthcare professional. A cough, shortness of breath, or excess mucus production that lingers for weeks are all worth getting looked at.
Dr. Andrei Constantinescu, MD graduated from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He is certified by the Board Certification: pediatrics and has a state license in New York.
Medical School: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Residency: New York-Presbyterian Hospital
Board Certification: Board Certification: pediatrics
Licensed In: New York
Dr. Andrei Constantinescu, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: GHI PPO, Group Health Incorporated (GHI), CIGNA PPO, CIGNA POS, CIGNA HMO, Blue Shield PPO, Aetna Signature Administrators, CIGNA EPO, Blue Shield HMO, EmblemHealth, MVP Health Care, WellCare, Blue Shield EPO, Medicaid Managed Care, MultiPlan, HealthSpring, United Healthcare PPO, United Healthcare POS, United Healthcare HMO, Aetna, Railroad Medicare, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna POS, Vytra, Affinity Health Plan, MagnaCare, United Healthcare, HIP EPO, Great-West Healthcare, Medicare, Medicaid, Cigna, Oxford HMO, Empire BlueCross BlueShield HMO, 1199SEIU, Fidelis Care, HIP PPO, HIP POS, Healthfirst, HIP HMO, Aetna EPO, Empire BlueCross BlueShield PPO, Empire BlueCross BlueShield, Aetna PPO, Aetna HMO, Medicare - Traditional Medicare, VNSNY CHOICE - Medicare Managed Care, VNSNY CHOICE, World Trade Center Health Plan, ElderServe, World Trade Center Health Plan - World Trade Center Health Plan, Healthfirst - Child/Family Health Plus, Healthfirst - Leaf (Exchange), AETNA - Medicare Managed Care, VNSNY CHOICE - Special Needs, MVP Health Care - Essential Plan, AETNA - NY Signature, Empire Blue Cross - EPO, MVP Health Care - HMO, Amida Care, Healthfirst - Medicare Managed Care, AETNA - Student Health, Amida Care - Special Needs, MVP Health Care - Child/Family Health Plus, VNSNY CHOICE - SelectHealth and ElderServe - Special Needs.
According to our sources, Dr. Andrei Constantinescu, MD accepts the following insurance providers:
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These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Andrei Constantinescu, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.
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$120
XENPOZYME $120 |
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$119
SPINRAZA $119 |
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$81
XOLAIR $81 |
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$61
Acapella $61 |
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$45
ZENPEP $45 |
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$204
Hillrom - Vest System Model 105 Home Care $26 |
FASENRA $25 |
Cayston $25 |
DUPIXENT $22 |
CUVITRU $21 |
Other $85 |
| $629 |
Dr. Andrei Constantinescu, MD has received 3 research payments totaling $42,436.
Dr. Andrei Constantinescu is a specialist in pediatric pulmonology. Dr. Constantinescu attended medical school at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His residency was performed at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and a hospital affiliated with Weill Cornell Medical College. Areas of expertise for Dr. Constantinescu include neuromuscular disorders (nerve & muscle diseases), cystic fibrosis (CF), and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). He accepts several insurance carriers, including Aetna EPO, Blue California, and Healthfirst. Dr. Constantinescu (or staff) speaks the following languages: Romanian and French. Dr. Constantinescu is affiliated with ColumbiaDoctors. His practice in New York, NY is open to new patients as reported by ColumbiaDoctors.
