NewYork-Presbyterian

Pediatric Pulmonology

Pediatric Aerodigestive Programs

Children sometimes develop disorders that involve both the upper digestive tract and the airways. The specialists in the Pediatric Aerodigestive Programs at NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children's Hospital and NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital use a multidisciplinary approach, state-of-the-art diagnostic techniques, and individualized treatment plans to care for children with complex airway problems and upper digestive tract disorders—especially those affecting feeding, swallowing, breathing and sleep.

Tests and Diagnosis

We offer the following diagnostic procedures to assess your child's health:

Flexible bronchoscopy to evaluate your child’s upper and lower airways for anatomical issues and to determine the cause of increased secretions and infections
Upper endoscopy to rule out inflammation of the esophagus or eosinophilic esophagitis and to obtain esophageal biopsies
pH testing for gastroesophageal reflux
Upper gut motility testing
Modified barium swallow and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing
Direct laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy to assess your child’s airways for scarring and structural problems
Lung function testing
Pediatric sleep studies

What We Treat

Through our pediatric aerodigestive programs, we have expertise caring for children with conditions such as:

Airway stenosis
Apnea
Aspiration
Chronic recurrent pneumonia
Chronic lung disease with other issues
Craniofacial syndromes (with airway obstruction and associated feeding problems)
Dysphagia (swallowing problems)
Esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula
Esophageal dysmotility
Esophageal stricture
Feeding problems
Laryngomalacia
Noisy breathing
Posterior laryngeal cleft
Sleep-disordered breathing
Tracheomalacia
Vocal cord paralysis and other voice disorders

Our Approach to Care

Our multidisciplinary teams include pediatric pulmonologists, otolaryngologists (ENT specialists), gastroenterologists, and speech and swallowing specialists who work together to evaluate your child in an effective and time-efficient manner. We can also call on the expertise of a wide variety of other pediatric specialists at our children's hospitals, including those in the fields of surgery, allergy and immunology, genetics, cardiology, and sleep medicine. We'll review treatment recommendations together and tailor a plan of care just for your child.

Treatments We Offer

Your child’s care team of specialists will meet to go over the test results and personalize a comprehensive plan for your child. Treatment may include medication, speech/language therapy, or surgery. Among the cutting-edge procedures we offer are:

Esophageal dilation
Gastrointestinal Botox^® injections
Posterior laryngeal cleft repair. If surgery is necessary, your child will be in the care of a world-renowned pediatric surgical team with some of the best outcomes in the country.

Why Choose Us

Because aerodigestive disorders are complex, children with these conditions and their families often see multiple specialists and may receive conflicting information about how to manage their condition. You can see all the specialists your child needs in one hospital and benefit from a team approach to care. Dedicated patient care coordinators assist your family across all phases of your child's care, scheduling related office visits and diagnostic procedures and serving as your point of contact. Contact us today to find out how our expert teams can help you.