EXPERT
Dr. Phillip DeChristopher, MD PHD
Pathologist | Blood Banking & Transfusion Medicine
Dr. Phillip DeChristopher is a pathologist practicing in Maywood, IL. Dr. DeChristopher is a doctor who specializes in the study of bodily fluids and tissues. As a pathologist, Dr. DeChristopher can help your primary care doctor make a diagnosis about your medical condition. Dr. DeChristopher may perform a tissue biopsy to determine if a patient has cancer, practice genetic testing, and complete a number of laboratory examinations. Pathologists can also perform autopsies which can determine a persons cause of death and gain information about genetic progression of a disease.
Dr. Phillip DeChristopher, MD PHD
- Maywood, IL
- University of Illinois
- Accepting new patients
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How can I reduce my creatinine levels?
No easy way. Elevated creatinine levels possibly suggest a more chronic form of kidney injury. Needs thorough evaluation by an Internist or Nephrologist.
Are you sedated for a bone marrow biopsy?
Yes, usually with local anesthestic, such as lidocaine, just like at the dentist's office
Do they give you local anesthesia for a bone marrow biopsy?
Yes, usually local.
What test shows kidney infection?
Simplest "test" is a urinalysis and/or urine culture.
How long does prostate biopsy pain last?
Depends on the technique used to get the biopsy.. Should not be more than a matter of hours.
Is licking a poisonous substance dangerous?
Precaution is your best recommendation. Absolutely avoid bringing any potentially toxic substances from work into your home! Yes, "licking" can potentially enter a person's bloodstream, READ MORE
Precaution is your best recommendation. Absolutely avoid bringing any potentially toxic substances from work into your home! Yes, "licking" can potentially enter a person's bloodstream, but its affects will depend on the substance, dose, frequency, etc.
How much does hemoglobin drop after blood donation?
If you are 70-Kg weight (~ 160 pounds), your hemoglobin will drop ~ 1 gram/dL and hematocrit by 3%.
What time of day is best for the PSA test?
Any time that you can schedule the specimen (vein puncture) collection. PSA test results don't very much night or day.
How long does it take to get PSA test results?
Moments. PSA is a blood test, so only requires a small needle stick into a vein. Usually over in 20 seconds.
What anesthesia is best for thyroid biopsy?
Depends on what kind of biopsy. If it is only a "fine needle" biopsy, possibly only local (numbing) anesthesia. Larger portions of tissue require more complete anesthesia. The READ MORE
Depends on what kind of biopsy. If it is only a "fine needle" biopsy, possibly only local (numbing) anesthesia. Larger portions of tissue require more complete anesthesia. The answer is "situational". The physician doing the biopsy has to obtain informed consent from you, so owes you a complete explanation of the procedure
High blood test results?
The lab tests you quote are too non-specific to be diagnostic of anything. However, if you are having urinary frequency, urgency or are losing control of your urine in your bladder, READ MORE
The lab tests you quote are too non-specific to be diagnostic of anything. However, if you are having urinary frequency, urgency or are losing control of your urine in your bladder, the problem is not in your kidneys. The problem is in your lower urinary tract (bladder, prostate, other anatomic structures). You don't need a nephrologist (Kidney doctor); you should consult a Urologist who is a surgeon who can diagnose and deal with any of the structures that are causing the symptoms.
Are blood transfusions necessary during surgery?
Sometimes. Depends on the surgery. Way too many details to give a thorough or complete answer. However, you should thoroughly discuss this topic with you surgeon who is required READ MORE
Sometimes. Depends on the surgery. Way too many details to give a thorough or complete answer. However, you should thoroughly discuss this topic with you surgeon who is required to obtain informed consent from you for transfusion, if and when necessary or indicated,
What does it mean when your prostate levels are high?
Do you mean the laboratory test known at PSA? Depends on a lot of variables. How "high" is "high"? Just over the cutoff limit? Or other kind of elevation. The interpretative READ MORE
Do you mean the laboratory test known at PSA? Depends on a lot of variables. How "high" is "high"? Just over the cutoff limit? Or other kind of elevation. The interpretative details should be discussed with your Urologist.
Is kidney biopsy painful?
Yes, it can be painful. Depents on how large a portion of kidney is required for the specimen collection. Is it only obtained with a "needle", or is a larger portion of tissue READ MORE
Yes, it can be painful. Depents on how large a portion of kidney is required for the specimen collection. Is it only obtained with a "needle", or is a larger portion of tissue required for diagnosis? You need to discuss all options for pain medications or analgesia with the physician who is doing the biopsy.
Child's blood test?
Way too many variables to give a single answer. Depands on what's being treated. Why is the child anemic? "Low iron" is only one kind of anemia. Is there active bleeding? READ MORE
Way too many variables to give a single answer. Depands on what's being treated. Why is the child anemic? "Low iron" is only one kind of anemia. Is there active bleeding? Does the child have another disease diagnosis which is associated with the anemia? The child needs a diagnosis and if the pediatrician is not helpful, consider a second opinion.
Should I be concerned?
"High" kappa light chain results are significant. How or why they are significant needs to be investigated thoroughly to understand why they are present and what else may be associated READ MORE
"High" kappa light chain results are significant. How or why they are significant needs to be investigated thoroughly to understand why they are present and what else may be associated with this laboratory finding. It's unfortunate that your "doctor" has brushed it off. Recommend you be referred to a good Hematologist.
How is blood banking impacted by covid-19?
Nationally and internationally blood banking was severely impacted on many levels. Otherwise previously healthy donors were either in "locked down" situations or were infected READ MORE
Nationally and internationally blood banking was severely impacted on many levels. Otherwise previously healthy donors were either in "locked down" situations or were infected by the virus. The pandemic caused widespread staffing shortages among blood bank personnel. With schools and large businesses being closed for various periods, previous venue sites for productive blood drives disappeared. There were also various kinds of "supply chain" shortages. By early 2021 widespread blood shortages occurred coast to coast because blood usage was still "normal". Challenged adequacy of donor blood became the "new normal".
Do you get general anesthesia for a colon biopsy?
Usually only "conscious sedation" is required. General anesthesia is not required.
Can acupuncture help with high hemoglobin levels?
From the viewpoint of traditional medicine, it seems very unlikely that acupuncture would be helpful. "High hemoglobin levels" require thorough investigation to understand why READ MORE
From the viewpoint of traditional medicine, it seems very unlikely that acupuncture would be helpful. "High hemoglobin levels" require thorough investigation to understand why that is the case. Recommend evaluation by a competent Internist or Hematologist.
Do varicose vein treatments use blood from blood banks?
Surgical or other treatments for varicose veins do not require transfusion. The procedures used to treat them do not cause large blood losses, usually do not cause symptoms in READ MORE
Surgical or other treatments for varicose veins do not require transfusion. The procedures used to treat them do not cause large blood losses, usually do not cause symptoms in patients, so very uncommonly would require a clinical decision to transfuse.
