Pediatric Pulmonologists Offer Clinic for Aerodigestive Services

Providing diagnosis of complex airway disorders

Pediatric pulmonologists at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital and Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital offer state-of-the-art care in the diagnostic work-up for children with aerodigestive issues and will provide an expert treatment outline for the referring physician. Aerodigestive issues include having trouble swallowing or breathing, as well as experiencing respiratory symptoms along with gastrointestinal issues.

Clinics at both hospitals are staffed by a medical and surgical team from various specialties who are experts in taking care of patients with complex airway disorders. In alignment with the multidisciplinary treatment philosophy at Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health, gastroenterologists, pulmonologists, feeding therapy and otolaryngologists, among others, are involved in diagnosis of patients.

Children who present with repeated cases of conditions such as recurrent croup or recurrent pneumonia are among those evaluated at the clinic.

Tools for diagnosis include triple endoscopy, combining laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) as one procedure, allowing direct visualization of the airways and upper digestive system. Performing these at one time eliminates the need for a child to go to the OR more than once, so less anesthesia is used.

When a child with symptom(s) or illnesses that involve airway and digestive tract is identified, the treating physician can refer to the aerodigestive clinic where a team of specialists will thoroughly evaluate the patient and render professional opinion. Once a specific etiology is identified, the patient will return to the referring provider or specialist with a medical plan and continued care.

Conditions potentially needing aerodigestive care would include:

• Aspiration disorders (when food and/or drink enter the lungs rather than esophagus)
• Congenital tracheal or esophageal conditions (TEF or TEF/EA)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Genetic syndromes that affect neurological and muscular control
• Swallowing disorders
• Vocal cord disorders

The specialist team at the aerodigestive clinic provide the following services:

• Office consultation with multiple providers and nurse coordinators on the same day
• Direct Laryngoscopy at the time of consultation if indicated
• Coordinated outpatient diagnostic laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), if appropriate
• Referral for modified barium swallow when indicated
• Functional endoscopic evaluation of swallowing in age-appropriate cooperative patients
• Clinical feeding and swallowing evaluation (not offered same day)
• Feeding evaluation followed by speech and language evaluation

Learn more about our advancements in pediatric pulmonology.