Center for Pediatric Airway Disorders
The better you understand your child's complex airway and swallowing problem, the more equipped you will be to make the best possible decisions regarding treatment.
At the Center for Pediatric Airway Disorders at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), our philosophy is to provide you with the most comprehensive information about your child's condition and present potential treatments, including innovative options and advanced surgery.
We evaluate and treat problems present at birth (congenital) and ones brought on by injury or long-term tracheostomy use (acquired). Depending on your child's condition, we bring in pulmonologists, gastroenterologists or other specialists and, working together, we develop your child's care plan.
How we serve you
Our Neonatal Airway Program and Pediatric Voice Program are available to your child. In addition to our ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) programs, we perform delicate procedures and complex surgeries as needed to improve your child's condition. These include:
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Endoscopic Airway Dilation -
Decannulation and Tracheostomy -
Endoscopic Laryngeal Cleft Repair -
Laryngeal Cleft Repair -
Laryngotracheal Reconstruction (LTR) — Single-Staged Repair -
Laryngotracheal Reconstruction (LTR) -
Microlaryngoscopy -
Partial Cricotracheal Resection -
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve (RLN) Reinnervation -
Slide Tracheoplasty -
Supraglottoplasty -
Tracheal Resection -
Tracheostoma Revision -
Tracheostomy -
Vocal Fold Injection
Conditions we treat
We diagnose and manage congenital and acquired airway disorders, including those listed here, and others such as dysphonia, glottic atresia, laryngocele, tracheocutaneous fistula, tracheomalacia and vocal cord dysfunction.
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Airway tumors -
Choanal atresia -
Complete tracheal rings -
Foreign body aspiration -
Glottic stenosis -
Laryngeal atresia -
Laryngeal trauma -
Laryngomalacia -
Laryngotracheal cleft (LTC) -
Pyriform aperture stenosis -
Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis -
Saccular cysts -
Stridor (noisy breathing) -
Subglottic cysts -
Subglottic hemangiomas -
Subglottic stenosis -
Tracheal stenosis -
Tracheomalacia -
Vallecular cysts -
Vocal cord cysts -
Vocal cord nodules -
Vocal cord paralysis -
Vocal cord polyps
Why choose us for airway disorders
CHOP's Center for Pediatric Airway Disorders is the only center of its kind in the Greater Philadelphia region. We have cared for children with complex disorders from all over the country and beyond.
Meet your team
Our coordinated approach to care, bridging many specialties at CHOP, makes it possible to meet the complex needs of children who come to us for care.
Our locations
You can visit the Center for Pediatric Airways Disorders at the Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care on our Philadelphia campus.
Our research
Our current research focuses include the outcomes of standard reconstructive approaches; the genetics of congenital airway lesions; voice evaluation in children after laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR); and more.
Center for Pediatric Airway Disorders resources
We have created resources to help you find answers to your questions about airway disorders and feel confident with the care you are providing your child.
Patient stories
Preparing for your child's appointment
We work with your family and local doctors to gather as much information as possible before your appointment. That allows us to have all the specialists your child will need to see ready to evaluate your child all on one day. Your child may need diagnostic tests.
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