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Dr. Kunal J. Patel, PhD, MD is a thoracic surgeon in Durham, NC specializing in thoracic surgery. He graduated from University of Virginia School of Medicine in 2013 and has 12 years of experience. Dr. Kunal J. Patel, PhD, MD is affiliated with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Duke Health and DUKE HEALTH INTEGRATED PRACTICE INC.
20 Duke Medicine Circle
Durham, NC 27710
508 Fulton Street Durham Durham Vamc (558)
Durham, NC 28301
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. Kunal J. Patel, PhD, MD graduated from University of Virginia School of Medicine in 2013. He completed residency at Medical University of South Carolina Affiliated Hospitals. He has a state license in North Carolina.
Medical School: University of Virginia School of Medicine (2013)
Residency: Medical University of South Carolina Affiliated Hospitals (2021)
Licensed In: North Carolina
Dr. Kunal J. Patel, PhD, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Dr. Kunal J. Patel, PhD, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: MedCost, Aetna Traditional Choice, Blue Advantage, Aetna Medicare PPO, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, CIGNA Open Access Plus, WellCare, AmeriHealth, Medicare Part B, Medicare Advantage, AARP, CIGNA Open Access, United Healthcare PPO, United Healthcare POS, United Healthcare HMO, Aetna, Aetna Workers' Compensation, TRICARE Prime, United Healthcare, Aetna Open Choice PPO, TRICARE Prime Remote, Medicare, Medicaid, Humana, Cigna, TRICARE, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Aetna Managed Choice POS, Aetna HMO, Gateway Health Alliance, Duke Group Plans, *Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan., Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA), *Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan., Aetna Quality Point of Service (QPOS), Aetna Choice POS, Aetna Choice POS II, Aetna Medicare Value Plan (HMO), Duke Basic, Ambetter, Experience Health, Aetna Select HMO, Aetna PCP Coordinated POS Plan, Blue Select, Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*, Aetna Limited Benefit Insurance PPO, Healthy Blue, Aetna Health Network Only, Aetna Health Network Option, All Savers Fully Insured, First Medicare Direct, Carolina Complete Health, Healthgram, All Savers Alternate Funding, Aetna Medicare Assure Plan (HMO D-SNP), Aetna/CVS Health, Aetna Elect Choice HMO, Aetna Open Access Elect Choice, Aetna Voluntary Indemnity Group Plan, Duke Select, Aetna Open Access HMO, Open Access Aetna Select, Aetna Open Access Managed Choice, NC State Employees Health Plan, Ambetter of North Carolina and United Medical Resources (UMR).
According to our sources, Dr. Kunal J. Patel, PhD, MD accepts the following insurance providers:
Dr. Kunal J. Patel, PhD, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.96 out of 5 stars based on 42 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Kunal J. Patel, PhD, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Durham, NC.
These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Kunal J. Patel, PhD, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.
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$1,277
VISTASEAL $333 |
ECHELON ENDOPATH $277 |
Enseal X1 $218 |
PROLENE $142 |
Echelon; Endopath $118 |
Other $188 |
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$140
Envarsus XR $140 |
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$118
PriMatrix $118 |
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$113
OviTex Reinforced Bioscaffold With Permanent Polymer (OviTex) $113 |
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$108
FLOSEAL $108 |
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$185
GATTEX $87 |
Surgical Mgmt Therapy $65 |
Da Vinci Surgical System $33 |
| $1,940 |
Dr. Kunal Patel practices thoracic surgery. On average, patients gave Dr. Patel a rating of 5.0 stars (out of 5). Areas of particular interest for Dr. Patel include lung transplant. He is professionally affiliated with Duke Health and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Blue California, CIGNA Plans, and TRICARE are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Patel honors. Dr. Patel attended medical school at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. His training includes a residency program at a hospital affiliated with Medical University of South Carolina.
