Locations
Office
PA
About
Bio
I am a double-boarded practicing physician/surgeon and have a passion for what I do. I feel honored and lucky to be doing what I love and strongly support this platform as a way for doctors and patients to connect in new and innovative ways. No longer should you be frustrated with travel times to your doctor, sitting for hours in a waiting room to then only get a few minutes of your doctors time. This platform frees both the patient and the doctor from the administrative burden that comes with the control that government and insurance companies have imposed on a once honored physician-patient relationship. I hope that I serve you well.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Critical Care
General Surgery
Licenses
United States: Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania
Doctor Q&A
55 Answers
1 Agree
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Bilirubin: The liver usually "cleans up" the products (bilirubin) that are released when old red blood cells in your body get recycled. In liver failure, these p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Seek pro advice: Symptoms include nausea/vomiting, abdominal distention. Inability to pass flatus and possibly stool. This can be diagnosed with an abdominal Xray and ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Grey area: Usually refers to the last few centimeters as the ileum enters the cecum. Its not defined by any anatomic landmark.... maybe the ligament of treves, i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Must talk to surgeon: This should be an hour-long discussion that depends on your specific diagnosis as well as family and personal history. 400 words wont justify an answe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Maybe gallbladder?: Depending on radiation of pain to and associated symptoms this could be due to gallbladder, stomach or heart. These internal organs have nerves which ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
No: VASCULAR problems causing R blindness would be due to R carotid. The artery to the eye is fed by the same side carotid artery, therefore temporary R ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Dehydration?: This can sometimes be a side effect of dehydration. I suggest drinking plenty of fluids prior to exercising, preferably water. Additionally, try to ta... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
No but: The bile ducts should not change in size after cholecystectomy. The more important question is why are you getting all these CT scans. You're pretty y... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Receptors: These three medications are used to support the heart and cardiovascular system ie. blood pressure and heart rate. They are known as sympathomimetics ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Abnormal protrusion: A hernia (anywhere) is a protrusion, or something sticking out where it's not supposed to. An inguinal hernia refers to contents from within the abdom... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Allergy: This could very well be an allergy. Keep a record of any foods or environmental exposures that precede these symptoms and see if there's a consistent ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Never: Those are serious and dangerous medications and should only be administered in an intensive care setting by a qualified physican.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Interval training: During training you need to maintain a constant aerobic level with intermittent high intensity bursts. After these bursts do not stop or slow down but... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Get the CT: Get the CT scan. If its negative there will be nothing to be nervous about.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Bleeding ulcer: Black stool can be due to blood from as high in the GI tract as your stomach. As red blood makes its way down your GI tract it can turn your stool bla... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Depends: If any of the following are true you should go to the ER tonight: nausea, vomiting, inability to tolerate any food, fever, chills, pain so severe that... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Unlikely: That would be pretty rare. Compartment syndrome is usually caused by severe trauma to an extremity (arm or leg) from either soft tissue injury or a fr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 65-year-old male asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Should be none: Removing the right atrial appendage should have very little if any physiologic consequences. It is more of a vestigial structure that is frequently ma... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
If cta negative- no: As long as you get the appropriate diagnostic test like an arterial phase CT of the chest, it's unlikely the aorta as that is a pretty sensitive test.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Not sure: If what you mean by exertional compartment syndrome is what is colloquially known as 'shin splints' then you may experience that after massage. True c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Yes: Aspirin interferes with the inherent natural defense of the stomach to protect itself from the corrosive acid which it produces for breakdown of food.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Gas rises : Gas rises so when you're in an upright position it takes a lot more force to get it out. Once you lie down the gas redistributes and is in a better po... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Yes: We're still unsure what causes it but one theory is that the fat appendage on the colon gets twisted which cuts off its blood supply. This can certain... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Yes: A varicocele is an abnormal enlargement of the veins draining the testicle. Open inguinal hernia surgery is performed in close proximity to these vein... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Depends: It really all depends on what the root cause of your colitis is. After multiple episodes of diverticulitis, you should have a discussion with your sur... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Call your surgeon: This depends on what type of surgery you had and the specific symptoms. Either way, your surgeon or his/her assistant should be available to answer qu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Outpatient Surgery: This should be a relatively simple outpatient procedure depending on the size of the sentinel pile.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
More treatment: Sounds like it hasnt been treated correctly or you have a recurrence. There may also be a persistent abscess or some anatomic reason why this isnt get... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Rarely: An antrectomy is a rarely performed operation these days. It used to be a common procedure performed before the age of gastric acid reducing medicatio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Oxygen Delivery: Blood carries oxygen to your tissues which is vital for life. The two main organs which are most sensitive to decreased oxygen supply are your brain a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Read below: It is one type of weight loss surgery that has gained popularity over the last decade. The stomach is shaped like a sack and its primary function is f... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Yes: An epidural is generally done at a higher spinal level than where the usual location for a pilonidal cyst is. It should be of no concern.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Probably not: Internal hemorrhoids in general dont cause symptoms other than rectal bleeding.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 61-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Unlikely: If its on the palmar side of the wrist this could be a ganglion cyst. This will not go away on its own and may require a steroid injection or surgery.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
YES: once you get C diff you can relapse again. Usually it will occur with another hospitalization or antibiotic use. You should use a probiotic and eat yo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Years of schooling: An intensivist is a doctor who is board certified in critical care. This can be a fellowship (additional training) after a 3 year medical residency or... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Unlikely: Unless you have an inherited or congenital abnormality of connective tissue, it's unlikely at your age. It is not unusual to be able to feel an abdomi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Not recommended : You should really stick to a bland diet, but even that doesn't guarantee that you won't have another attack of biliary colic.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
It's not: Those aren't signs or symptoms of a heart attack in a 20 year old female, who's risk is super super low for a heart attack to begin with.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
External: It's most likely the external jugular vein as the internal is fairly deep and below the muscle.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Dehydration?: Have you been taking in enough liquids? Try drinking lots of water and possibly taking some Metamucil.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Get a Diagnosis: Do you know the cause of your abdominal pain? Has that been properly worked up? Being on chronic narcotics in itself can be a cause for severe abdomin... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
A bit more info: First off: how do you know it's a sigmoid mass? Do you mean left lower quadrant mass? Does it go away ever? The answer to colonoscopic diagnosis depen... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
See a Ped surgeon: I assume youre asking about a baby? Hirschprung's disease would be a cause for constipation. This could definitely be a cause for severe bloating. The... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Get it checked out: This could be a lymph node, a lipoma (abnormal growth of fat) or depending on location may be a branchial cleft cyst. If its been there for more than ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Consult PT: This could be a strain. There's a whole bunch of questions that need to be answered to make the diagnosis here as this is one of the most common compl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Yes: Done by the right surgeon it is not any less safe than say, laparoscopic surgery. Depending on the specific type of surgery you're asking about it may... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Maybe: Not recommended. Best to not try it and not worry about it.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Depends: How recent was your surgery? It could be postop pain. Can also be retained stone or primary stone, or possibly another diagnosis such as a peptic ulce... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronen Elefantanswered
Critical Care 15 years experience
Endometreiosis: If you havent had prior surgery it could be endometriosis. You should talk about this with your GYN at your next appointment.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
3
Recommendations
43
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Elefant is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Elefant is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Dec 4, 2015
I am grateful for this doctor this Thanksgiving!
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thanks, I was hoping you would say yes so I would have some answers. I will continue to follow up with my doctors.
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thanks, booked in for an ultrasound tomorrow for my ongoing stomach pain :)
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Thank u very much for taking ur time to help me
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, NY
Graduated 2008MD
Residency
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Awards
Top Trauma Surgeon , Second Place, National - Fall
2014
HealthTap Doctor Mom
Affiliations
Eastern Association For The Surgery Of Trauma
American College Of Surgeons
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