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08/09/2024

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09/21/2021

Everyone needs a go-to practice for their primary care needs. Tristate Pulmonary Medical Practice treats patients in and around Monaca with a full range of primary medical services, including annual checkups, specialist referrals, and more.

03/22/2020

Coronavirus COVID-19 Update
Your health is our top priority. During these times, please make sure to:
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
Stay home when you are sick
Limit close contact with people who are sick
Get tested if you are feeling any symptoms associated with COVID-19.

We are taking further measures beyond those already in place to help prevent the spread of infection and to continue servicing our patients and our community.

We have the availability of video conferencing Tele Medicine appointments with Doctor Laracuente.

Though our doors may be physically closed, we are fully operational and have video Tele Medicine appointments available to all our patients, new and follow ups.

Doctor Laracuente is also available at the hospital for all the patients that may require his care and services. Request him once you have arrived to the ER and he will be able to care for you.

Our cancellation fees will be waived during these circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Call 724-544-1932
visit tristatepulmonary.com

09/09/2019

08/15/2019

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08/15/2019

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07/25/2019

One-third of malpractice cases for death or permanent disability began with an errant or delayed diagnosis, making it the biggest cause of serious harms among medical errors.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Diagnostic errors that led to death or permanent disability were linked with misdiagnosed cancers (37.8%), vascular events (22.8%) and infections (13.5%) — which led the researchers to refer to them as the 'big three.'Half of the most-severe harm cases ended in patient death and the other half resulted in permanent disability.Failures of clinical judgment caused more than 85% of the misdiagnosed cases.
Misdiagnoses in treatments for "big three" conditions – cardiovascular events, cancers and infections – comprise 74% of all serious harms from diagnostic errors, according to a new study published Thursday in Diagnosis.The study also found that 34% of malpractice cases for death or permanent disability began with an errant or delayed diagnosis, making it the biggest cause of serious harms among medical errors."We know that diagnostic errors happen across all areas of medicine. There are over 10 thousand diseases, each of which can manifest with a variety of symptoms, so it can be daunting to think about how to even begin tackling diagnostic problems," said study lead author David Newman-Toker, MD, director of the Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute Center for Diagnostic Excellence, in remarks accompanying the report.

07/13/2019

FIRE IN , Pa

Source:

Inhalation injury is a nonspecific term that refers to damage to the respiratory tract or lung tissue from heat, smoke, or chemical irritants carried into the airway during inspiration. The term is often used synonymously with smoke inhalation injury. Inhalation injury resulting from fire remains one of the leading causes of death.

Inhalation injury can affect the airways as well as result in systemic toxicity. The location and severity of injury depends on several factors, including the ignition source, the size and diameter of the particles in the smoke, the duration of the exposure, and the solubility of the gases. Direct toxin damage is caused by the lower-molecular-weight constituents of smoke because of their pH, ability to form free radicals, and ability to reach the distal airways and alveoli. Based upon the primary localization of the insult, inhalation injury is classified into injuries of the upper airway, the tracheobronchial system, or the lung parenchyma.
The leading injury in the upper airway (above the vocal cords) is thermal injury due to the efficient heat exchange in the oro- and nasopharynx. The immediate injury results in erythema, ulcerations, and edema. In combined burn and inhalation injury, aggressive fluid administration required to treat burn shock promotes early edema formation.
Toxic inhalation of noxious gases (eg, chlorine), liquids (eg, acid), and direct airway fire (eg, intraoperative) can also be associated with a similar process. Clinical symptoms include persistent coughing and wheezing, soot-containing airway secretions (ie, melanoptysis), increased work of breathing resulting in hypoventilation, erythema, hyperemia, and increased pulmonary shunting from lobar collapse or atelectasis.
Damage to the lung parenchyma is delayed. The time difference from the initial injury to the occurrence of a decrease in arterial oxygen tension to inspiratory oxygen fraction ratio (PaO2:FiO2 ratio) is correlated with the severity of the lung injury .

The diagnosis of inhalation injury may be suspected based upon clinical findings in the setting of smoke exposure, but a definitive diagnosis relies upon direct examination of the airways.

Treatment of inhalation injury is supportive and aimed at relieving bronchospasm, reducing pulmonary secretions, and clearing the airways of fibrin casts and sloughed, necrotic bronchial epithelium, which can cause airway obstruction and atelectasis leading to pneumonia.

The clinical manifestations (eg, cough, dyspnea, wheeze, chest tightness) of reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS) and irritant-induced asthma (IIA) differ mainly in the rapidity of onset of symptoms. In RADS, the onset of symptoms is usually so abrupt that subjects are able to date their occurrence precisely, although a few patients report respiratory symptoms developing up to seven days after the exposure. Patients with multiple exposures to high concentrations of products such as chlorine may be able to identify the timing, nature, and frequency of events. However, patients with the not-so-sudden onset variant of IIA may not be aware of multiple low level irritant exposures and may report episodic symptoms that are not precisely linked to known exposures.

After an acute exposure to gas, smoke, fumes, or vapors with irritant properties, some subjects with no history of respiratory complaints report a burning sensation in the throat and nose referred to as respiratory upper airways distress syndrome (RUDS), in addition to cough, dyspnea, wheeze, and chest pain. These symptoms typically develop within 24 hours of the exposure and are severe enough that approximately 78 percent seek emergency room treatment. In most series, cough is the predominant symptom in RADS and IIA
We are equipped to perform a full range of pulmonary function tests and evaluations as part of a set of comprehensive screening and diagnostic services. These services are designed to successfully diagnose the patient’s condition, treat their symptoms, and help them breathe and sleep better.
Dr. Benjamin Laracuente is a Monaca, PA specializing in the treatment of respiratory/breathing conditions such as COPD, chronic , , , , pulmonary , pulmonary hypertension, lung cancer, and pleural effusions.

07/06/2019

How Do I Know If I Have Disorder?

Most people are oblivious to the fact that they’re suffering from a sleep disorder. We typically suggest people ask themselves the following questions for a quick self-assessment:

How do I feel when I wake up? – Do you awaken each morning still feeling tired, groggy, and fatigued? Do you frequently begin your day with a headache? If so, you may have an undiagnosed sleep disorder.

What do I do in the middle of the night? – Has anyone you’ve shared a bed with complained about your snoring, leg twitching, nighttime choking/gasping, or frequent trips to the bathroom? Have they ever shaken you because they couldn’t tell if you were breathing? The best insight as to whether or not you have a potential sleep disorder will often come from things a bed partner has said to you.

Am I excessively sleepy during the day? – People are often confused as to why they’re nodding off in the middle afternoon when they had what they thought was a good 6 to 8 hours of sleep. What they don’t realize is their deep sleep was likely frequently disrupted throughout the night and they aren’t anywhere near as well rested as they thought.

Do I have difficulty falling asleep? – Ideally, your circadian rhythm is in check and you’re one of the lucky ones with a regular bedtime where you’re fast asleep once the light goes out. But not everyone is that lucky. Many people rely on sleep aids to fall asleep or else they toss and turn for a while before their shuteye takes effect. This is especially a problem for shift workers or people without a consistent sleep schedule.

How is my focus, concentration and memory? – Impaired memory, concentration, alertness, judgment, and problem solving/reasoning can be linked to poor sleep and sleep disorders like sleep apnea.

Am I moody? – If you find yourself to be constantly “on edge” – easily irritable and feeling depressed – don’t be surprised if a sleep disorder is the reason for this moodiness.

Am I in shape and how’s my mojo? – If you feel you exercise and eat right, but can’t figure out why you have difficulty maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood pressure, or have little to no s*x drive, it may all come down to the quality of your sleep.

07/06/2019

DR. BENJAMIN LARACUENTE – SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS & IN MONACA, PA

, a leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both men and women, is a common problem seen by Dr. Benjamin Laracuente and his team at Tri-State Pulmonary. When we treat patients for lung cancer, we’re by their side for the long haul. From the initial diagnosis to staging through treatment, managing symptoms and complications, and any necessary palliative or end-of-life care, we provide compassionate patient-focused care and personalized treatment.

Dr. Laracuente will lead and/or closely collaborate with medical oncologists, thoracic surgeons, radiologists, physicians, and nurses to ensure you’re receiving the very best course of lung cancer treatment from a multi-disciplined team. We will monitor the results of treatments and make sure all related symptoms, as well as side effects from treatments, are properly managed.

Despite the fact that lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer mortalities throughout the world, Dr. Laracuente wholeheartedly believes that ongoing developments in lung cancer screening, staging, medication development, and molecular diagnostics will result in much fewer lung cancer deaths in the future. Early diagnosis is the key.