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Home > IA Providers > Thoracic (Chest) Surgeons

Dr. Kalpaj Rajnikant Parekh, MD, MBBS

(528 Ratings)

Specializes in: Thoracic Surgery

Seth G.S. Medical College

Professional interests include: transplant procedures, lung transplant, bronchoscopy, and more.

200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242

(319) 356-4041

Dr. Kalpaj Rajnikant Parekh, MD, MBBS is a thoracic surgeon in Iowa City, IA specializing in thoracic surgery. He graduated from Seth G.S. Medical College. Dr. Kalpaj Rajnikant Parekh, MD, MBBS is affiliated with University of Iowa and University of Iowa Health Care.

Office Locations

Address:

200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242

Some issues Dr. Kalpaj Rajnikant Parekh, MD, MBBS can help you with:

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:

Brush biopsy, which uses a brush to collect samples.
Endobronchial biopsy, which uses the bronchoscope to guide forceps to sample lung tissue.
Transbronchial biopsy, which uses forceps and image guidance - such as X-rays, CT scans, or fluoroscopy - to sample lung tissue.
Transbronchial fine needle aspiration (TBNA), which uses a small needle to take samples of the lymph nodes or lungs.

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 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.

In The News (see more mentions in the news)

“[Photo] Reestablished Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery names Kalpaj Parekh interim chair.”—"The Daily Iowan", The Daily Iowan, November 2021

“Kalpaj Parekh, professor of Surgery-Cardiothoracic Surgery, began his role as interim chair and departmental executive officer of the relaunched Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery in the...”—"Reestablished Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery names Kalpaj Parekh interim chair", The Daily Iowan, September 2021

“UIHC doctors Julia Klesney-Tait, medical director for lung transplantation program, and Kalpaj Parekh, a surgical director, discussed the successes of the lung transportation department, though...”—"Regents approve medical leadership shakeup", The Daily Iowan, February 2016

doctor visit	57

**Age**
From 65 to 74	47
From 75 to 84	26
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	69
High Cholesterol	52
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	43
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	31
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	13
Heart Failure	17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	34
Diabetes	30
Dementia	0
Cancer	39

doctor visit	46

**Gender**
Male	46
Female	44

**Age**
From 65 to 74	42
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	23

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	51
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	44
Depression	36
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	26
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	39
Diabetes	24
Dementia	0
Cancer	39

doctor visit	185
excision	13
minimally invasive procedures	13
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures	12

**Gender**
Male	206
Female	138

**Age**
From 65 to 74	186
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	86

Hypertension	70
High Cholesterol	49
Stroke	7
Ischemic Heart Disease	41
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	26
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	27
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	42
Diabetes	24
Dementia	0
Cancer	35

**Gender**
Male	93
Female	67

**Age**
From 65 to 74	80
From 75 to 84	32
85 and over	11
Less than 65	37

Hypertension	73
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	50
Depression	29
Chronic Kidney Disease	44
Asthma	40
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	21
Heart Failure	25
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	42
Diabetes	36
Dementia	8
Cancer	36

doctor visit	72

**Gender**
Male	49
Female	53

**Age**
From 65 to 74	50
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	25

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	48
Depression	39
Chronic Kidney Disease	37
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	13
Heart Failure	25
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	43
Diabetes	19
Dementia	0
Cancer	31

doctor visit	5

**Gender**
Male	39
Female	33

**Age**
From 65 to 74	40
From 75 to 84	18
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	64
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	56
Depression	39
Chronic Kidney Disease	44
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	28
Heart Failure	28
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	40
Diabetes	28
Dementia	0
Cancer	42

**Gender**
Male	39
Female	41

**Age**
From 65 to 74	40
From 75 to 84	23
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	66
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	51
Depression	36
Chronic Kidney Disease	49
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	24
Heart Failure	31
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	41
Diabetes	33
Dementia	0
Cancer	33

**Gender**
Male	36
Female	27

**Age**
From 65 to 74	44
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	73
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	37
Depression	35
Chronic Kidney Disease	43
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	27
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	46
Diabetes	29
Dementia	0
Cancer	40

dissection	13
doctor visit	51
excision	12
lymph node procedures	13
minimally invasive procedures	12
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures	11

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Kalpaj Rajnikant Parekh, MD, MBBS for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Kalpaj Rajnikant Parekh, MD, MBBS treated as a thoracic surgeon in Iowa City, IA were open surgery, dissection, minimally invasive procedures and excision.

abdominal surgery	11
dissection	13
doctor visit	81
excision	13
gastrointestinal procedures	11
lobectomy	10
lymph node procedures	13
minimally invasive procedures	13
neck surgery	11
open surgery	21
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures	12

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Kalpaj Rajnikant Parekh, MD, MBBS.

**Gender**
Male	56
Female	44

**Age**
75 to 84	9
85 and over	1
Less than 65	17
65 to 74	52

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Kalpaj Rajnikant Parekh, MD, MBBS From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Kalpaj Rajnikant Parekh, MD, MBBS treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Hypertension	57
High Cholesterol	45
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	37
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	31
Asthma	9
Osteoporosis	0
Heart Failure	20
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	32
Diabetes	22
Atrial Fibrillation	11
Dementia	0
Cancer	29

Education & Training

Dr. Kalpaj Rajnikant Parekh, MD, MBBS graduated from Seth G.S. Medical College. He is certified by the Maharashtra Medical Council United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and has a state license in Iowa.

Medical School: Seth G.S. Medical College

Board Certification: Maharashtra Medical Council United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)

Licensed In: Iowa

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Kalpaj Rajnikant Parekh, MD, MBBS is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

University of Iowa

University of Iowa Health Care

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Kalpaj Rajnikant Parekh, MD, MBBS has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.62 out of 5 stars based on 528 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Kalpaj Rajnikant Parekh, MD, MBBS from all over the web to help you find the right in Iowa City, IA.

4.62

Overall Rating

(528 Ratings)

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Kalpaj Rajnikant Parekh, MD, MBBS. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.	$963 Da Vinci Surgical System $963
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC	$20 KEYTRUDA $20

**Types of Payments**
Travel and Lodging	$651
Food and Beverage	$297
Education	$20
Gift	$16

Biography

Dr. Kalpaj Parekh sees patients in Iowa City, IA. His medical specialty is thoracic surgery. Dr. Parekh is professionally affiliated with the University of Iowa Health Care.