Jonathan Kiev, MD, FACS
For more information, please call 304-691-1200
Dr. Jonathan Kiev
Jonathan Kiev, MD, FACS, is a board-certified and fellowship-trained thoracic surgeon affiliated with Cabell Huntington Hospital and the Department of Surgery at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine.
Dr. Kiev earned his medical degree at Tulane University School of Medicine and completed fellowships in advanced thoracic surgery at the Mayo Clinic, minimally invasive thoracic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and cardiothoracic surgery at Loma Linda University Medical Center.
Dr. Kiev is an experienced thoracic surgeon who specializes in surgical procedures to treat diseases found in the chest area, including treatment of esophageal and lung cancer. He also performs vascular surgery and has a special interest in hiatal hernia and reflux surgery.
Some of the conditions that Dr. Kiev is experienced in treating were recently described in The Herald Dispatch. Here is a summary of those condition descriptions, along with PDF versions to print or e-mail.
Achalasia
Achalasia is a condition characterized by nausea and the inability to move food down the esophagus. In people with achalasia, the valve at the end of the esophagus does not relax and permit food to enter the stomach.
Often, patients gulp water to force food to pass into the stomach. Over time, many patients modify their diets and sometimes only drink soups and protein drinks, since food causes so much pain and discomfort.
Achalasia can be precancerous, so patients should seek medical attention as early as possible.
Aneurysms
Aneurysms are an abnormal dilation of the blood vessels. It's very important to screen and diagnose patients early to prevent potentially life threatening complications of aneurysm, rupture or embolization (blue toes). People with a family history of aneurysms, smokers and people who suffer from peripheral vascular disease (hardening of the arteries and bad circulation) should be screened through a quick and painless outpatient procedure called an ultrasound.
If diagnosed with an aneurysm, vascular surgeons and radiologists work together to develop a plan to prevent aneurysms from growing and causing serious complications.
Barrett's Esophagus
Barrett's esophagus is characterized by a change in the lining of the esophagus that occurs from chronic acid reflux. Barrett's esophagus is found in about 15% of patients who seek medical care for heartburn, although a large subgroup of patients with Barrett’s esophagus have no symptoms at all.
The condition is seen more frequently in men who are overweight and can only be diagnosed through endoscopy, or the insertion of a thin, flexible scope into the esophagus.
It's important to treat acid reflux because it can injure the esophageal lining and predispose patients to cancer and stricture formation. Once patients are treated appropriately, follow-up and monitoring are necessary to prevent complications.
Claudication
Pain in the lower legs, especially when walking, may be a sign of claudication, which is a symptom of peripheral vascular disease or poor circulation. Claudication occurs because the legs are not receiving enough blood during exercise.
Steps to help alleviate or prevent this condition include smoking cessation, lowering cholesterol levels and increasing exercise.
In some cases, patients may need intervention by a vascular surgeon or an interventional radiologist, who can often improve blood flow through revascularization procedures such as angioplasty, stenting or bypass surgery.
Dysphagia
Dysphagia is a term that means difficulty swallowing. It is usually a sign of a problem with your throat or esophagus. Dysphagia can have many possible causes, but the exact cause must be determined to prevent later complications.
If you have a hard time swallowing once or twice, you probably do not have dysphagia. But if you have trouble swallowing on a regular basis, you may have a more serious problem, such as esophageal cancer, hiatal hernia or narrowing of the esophagus.
These problems need to be treated right away to prevent serious complications and to allow your normal swallowing function to return.
Emphysema
Emphysema is a disease of the lungs that makes it hard to breathe. In people with emphysema, destruction of the lung tissue around small air sacs called alveoli, makes the sacs unable to hold their shape and lose their function.
Usually caused by smoking, emphysema is part of a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD.
There are several treatable stages in the progression of emphysema. That’s why it’s important for patients with the disease to be seen by a physician early and often.
A person's life can be cut short if specific steps are not taken to address this debilitating condition.
Hiatal Hernias
The hiatus is an opening in the diaphragm, the muscular wall separating the chest cavity from the abdomen. When the stomach bulges up into the chest through that opening, it's called a hiatal hernia.
Hiatal hernias get bigger over time. Many patients complain of reflux or heartburn symptoms, which are the hallmarks of hiatal hernia.
Hiatal hernias bring certain complications that are cause for concern, specifically anemia (low blood count) and Barrett's esophagitis - a potentially pre-cancerous change in the esophageal lining.
While medicines can alleviate some of the symptoms of hiatal hernia, thoracic surgeons offer an outpatient procedure to permanently stop the symptoms and complications of this medical problem.
Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition characterized by excessive and unpredictable sweating, especially on the palms of the hands, the armpits and feet. While not life threatening, many people with hyperhidrosis suffer from embarrassment, are hesitant to shake hands and are forced to change shirts even when it's cool outside.
Hyperhidrosis affects 2-3% of the population, yet fewer than 40% of patients seek medical advice.
Medical therapies, including antiperspirants and medications are often ineffective at stopping excessive sweating.
Fortunately, a minimally invasive surgical procedure called endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy has been shown to be effective, without causing any side effects. Using special cameras and techniques, this 30 minute outpatient procedure has a 95% success rate.
Lung Nodules
Lung nodules can be early signs of lung cancer. It's important to find these abnormalities early, so they don't become potentially life-threatening later in life. Discovered early, lung nodules can be treated and removed with little harm to the patient.
Unfortunately, many lung nodules are not discovered until they have progressed to advanced conditions like lung cancer, which may not be treatable with simple techniques.
Thoracic surgeons can intervene early and prevent complications later in life, but you need to be proactive about your lung health.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is not a disease of the lungs. It's a cancer of the lung lining caused by asbestos exposure. Symptoms of mesothelioma include coughing, pain and shortness of breath. Many patients with mesothelioma are misdiagnosed as having pneumonia because the symptoms are so similar.
It's important to remember that it can sometimes take 20 to 30 years from the time of asbestos exposure until symptoms first appear.
Mesothelioma is treatable, but people with it need to seek help from experts in surgery, medical oncology and radiation oncology.
Pleural Effusion
When fluid accumulates in any body cavity, we call it an effusion. Pleural effusion is the accumulation of fluid outside of the lungs, a condition that can cause shortness of breath and coughing.
There are many causes of pleural effusion, ranging from infections to chronic illnesses such as heart or kidney failure. Many times, pleural effusion is a reflection of some other disease process.
The best way to evaluate a pleural effusion is through chest x-ray or CT scan. Your physician may recommend therapy, if necessary.
Pneumothorax
Pneumothorax means a collapsed lung. Pneumothorax can have many causes, including trauma, pneumonia and emphysema. Sometimes, no distinct cause can be found. Patients with pneumothorax complain of pain and difficulty breathing.
Often, patients experiencing pneumothorax are tall and thin, although the reasons for this are not well understood.
The best way to diagnose pneumothorax is through x-ray. And treating pneuomothorax in a timely fashion is important to prevent complications that may arise from it.
To learn more about any of these conditions or to seek treatment, please call Dr. Kiev in the Department of Surgery at Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at 304-691-1200.
- Last updated: 07/19/2012
