Expanding Otolaryngology Expertise at LVH–Pocono

With training in the latest endoscopic and mimimally invasive technologies, the expertise that Jason Ohlstein, MD, brings to LVPG Ear, Nose and Throat–Pocono means that people who require complex head and neck care won’t have to leave the Pocono region to get it.

Board-certified in otolaryngology and head and neck surgery, Dr. Ohlstein joined Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Pocono earlier this year. “Previously, some of the more challenging or complex head and neck surgeries had to be sent out of network or out of the area, but now we’re able to offer complex and comprehensive ENT/otolaryngic care in the Pocono region, from pediatrics to older adults,” he says.

That includes head and neck cancers, tongue cancers, tonsil cancers, laryngeal cancers, endocrine surgery, thyroidectomy, parathyroid surgery, salivary gland surgery, advanced sinus surgery for nasal polyps and allergies, and surgical treatment for sleep apnea with the Inspire device.

Treating such a wide range of conditions takes a multidisciplinary effort. Dr. Ohlstein is affiliated with Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence and Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute. On a daily basis, he partners with clinicians in oncology, endocrinology and sleep medicine – and his patients.

“It’s important to me to spend time with my patients to help them navigate their diagnosis and treatment options and share the decision-making, so we can come up with a good plan together,” he says.

Dr. Ohlstein is also the first surgeon to pioneer the use of the Inspire upper airway stimulation system for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) at LVH–Pocono.

“It’s a new and exciting technology that’s expanding, and I’ve had very good outcomes and results with it,” says Dr. Ohlstein, who has performed nearly 50 Inspire procedures in the Lehigh Valley.

Inspire is a minimally invasive surgical solution for individuals with moderate to severe OSA who are unable to tolerate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment or who fail to see consistent benefits from CPAP. “It’s like a pacemaker for your tongue,” Dr. Ohlstein explains.

The system consists of three parts surgically implanted in the neck and chest that work together to stimulate the hypoglossal nerve, which controls tongue movements, to keep the airway open during sleep. The procedure is an outpatient same-day surgery performed under general anesthesia, usually taking about 90 minutes.

“My patients love it,” Dr. Ohlstein says. “It can really make a big impact and immediate life improvement for many people with sleep apnea.”