Loading Page
Dr. Joshua Andrew Blatter, MD, MPH is a pediatric pulmonologist in Saint Louis, MO specializing in pediatric pulmonology, general pediatrics and pediatric transplantation. He graduated from University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2008 and has 17 years of experience. Dr. Joshua Andrew Blatter, MD, MPH is affiliated with WashU Medicine, St. Louis Children's Hospital, BJC HealthCare and WashU Medicine.
St. Louis Children's Hospital
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.
Lung Transplant
Patients who have very severe lung disease may need a lung transplant. The diseased lung is entirely removed and replaced with a healthy lung, usually donated by a person who died. Either one or both lungs can be transplanted.
Contrary to popular belief, lung transplant is rarely used to treat lung cancer. It is a more common treatment for patients with other advanced lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Lung transplant is a serious operation and is generally used as a last resort for patients who have only a short time to live without surgery.
During a transplant, an incision is made on the side of the chest (for a single lung) or in the middle (for both lungs). Patients may be hooked up to a heart-lung bypass machine, which will do the work of moving blood and oxygen through the body during the procedure. After the diseased lung is cut away from the main airway and blood vessels, the donor lung is stitched into place. Surgery may take as long as twelve hours, and a hospital stay of two to three weeks after surgery is not uncommon. For the first hours or day after surgery, patients use a ventilator, or a machine to help them breathe. Tubes will be inserted into the chest to help drain excess air and fluid. During recovery, physical therapy and breathing exercises are used to help the new lung work as well as possible.
Lung capacity is carefully monitored for several months after surgery. Patients who have had a transplant will also have to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of their lives. These drugs stop the body's immune system from attacking the new lung. The main risks after a transplant are infection and rejection (when the immune system attacks the 'foreign' lung). A healthy lifestyle, including maintaining a diet high in vegetables and lean protein, not smoking, and getting enough exercise, is important to keeping the lungs functioning as well as possible. With proper care, many patients can live ten or even twenty years after a lung transplant.
Dr. Joshua Andrew Blatter, MD, MPH graduated from University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2008. He completed residency at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. He is certified by the General Pediatrics Pediatric Pulmonology and has a state license in Missouri.
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (2008)
Residency: Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Board Certification: General Pediatrics Pediatric Pulmonology
Licensed In: Missouri
Dr. Joshua Andrew Blatter, MD, MPH is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Dr. Joshua Andrew Blatter, MD, MPH appears to accept the following insurance providers: CIGNA Flexcare, MultiPlan, MHBP, United Healthcare Select Plus, United Healthcare Select, United Healthcare PPO, United Healthcare POS, Great-West Healthcare Open Access, United Healthcare EPO, United Healthcare Choice Plus, United Healthcare Choice, Blue Choice, Aetna QPOS, Great-West Healthcare POS, Great-West Healthcare PPO, Health Alliance HMO, Aetna Open Access HMO, Great-West Healthcare HMO, Rockport Healthcare Group, Hannibal Regional PHO, Aetna Medicare HMO, TRICARE, Decatur Memorial Hospital, Coventry, Anthem, Best Doctors, Aetna Managed Choice POS, Aetna Select, Aetna Choice POS, Aetna HMO, CIGNA Open Access POS, Aetna US Access, CIGNA Open Access Plus HMO, Aetna National Advantage Program, Coventry HMO, CIGNA Network, CIGNA PPO, MO HealthNet, CIGNA POS, CIGNA HMO, CorVel, CIGNA EPO, Aetna Medicare PPO, Aetna Open Access Managed Choice, Aetna Open Access Elect Choice, Aetna Choice POS II, AARP, Medicare Advantage, TriWest, Blue Cross Blue Shield Missouri - Regular or Traditional, CoxHealth, Coventry PPO, Coventry National Network PPO, USA Managed Care Organization, Health Alliance POS, Health Alliance PPO, United Healthcare, United Healthcare Navigate, Medicare, Medicaid, Quality Health Management, Humana, Cigna, Molina Healthcare, First Health, HealthLink PPO, Beech Street, HealthLink POS, HealthLink Open Access, HealthLink HMO, Aetna Elect Choice, HFN, United Healthcare Community Plan (AmeriChoice), Community Partners Health Plans, CIGNA Open Access Plus POS, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, CIGNA Network Open Access, CIGNA PPO Plus, Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS), Care Management Resources (CMR), Mercy Health Springfield Communities, Aetna Affordable Health Choice PPO, Advantra Option 1 HMO/POS (Aetna Medicare), Union Pacific Railroad Employee Health System, Freedom Plus PPO-Missouri (Aetna Medicare), Aetna CVS Health (MO Marketplace Exchange), Freedom PPO-Missouri (Aetna Medicare), Aetna Open Choice (PPO), Aetna Medicare Open Access POS, Health Alliance Medicare POS, Kansas Advantra Freedom PPO (Aetna Medicare), VA HealthCare Choice Program, BJC Center of Excellence - Consociate Health, Verify Insurance Acceptance With Practice, Illinois Department of Public Aid (IDPA/HFS), Advantra Silver HMO (Aetna Medicare), Advantra PPO (Aetna Medicare), Essence Advantage HMO, Meridian (Illinois Department of Public Aid), Health Alliance (IL Marketplace Exchange), HealthScope Benefits, Inn (Orscheln Industries Health Plan), Gold Advantage (Aetna Medicare), Aetna Health Network, Essence Advantage Select HMO, Advantra Complete PPO Illinois (Aetna Medicare), Aetna Health Network Option, BJC HealthSolutions, Aetna Medicare Open Access HMO, Health Alliance Medicare HMO, Advantra Option 2 HMO (Aetna Medicare), Essence Advantage Plus HMO and Gold Dual Core HMO Missouri (Aetna Medicare).
According to our sources, Dr. Joshua Andrew Blatter, MD, MPH accepts the following insurance providers:
Dr. Joshua Andrew Blatter, MD, MPH does not have any reviews yet, be the first to leave a review of Dr. Joshua Andrew Blatter, MD, MPH here: Leave a Review
Dr. Joshua Blatter specializes in pediatric transplantation, pediatric pulmonology, and general pediatrics and practices in Saint Louis, MO, Chesterfield, MO, and Florissant, MO. He has a special interest in lung transplant and lung issues. His professional affiliations include St. Louis Children's Hospital, WashU Medicine, and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Dr. Blatter welcomes new patients at his office inSaint Louis, MO as reported by BJC HealthCare. He is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a graduate of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh's residency program.
