Pediatric Aerodigestive Program

The Pediatric Aerodigestive Program at Weill Cornell Medicine houses a state-of-the-art clinic committed to providing care for children with complex medical problems involving the airway, lung and upper gastrointestinal tract.

Medical problems related to the aerodigestive tract are often complex and challenging to diagnose and treat. Our program brings together a multidisciplinary team in a single location to care for your child. Our team includes:

• Pediatric pulmonologists
• Pediatric otolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat)
• Pediatric gastroenterologists
• Speech therapy and feeding specialists

In addition to our specialists who regularly evaluate each patient, we also offer referrals for sleep specialists, allergists, geneticists and others as needed.

To make an appointment or get more information about our program please call 646-962-4334 or email Aerodigestive@med.cornell.edu.

Click here to view our brochure

What Sets Us Apart

We are affiliated with the Komansky Children's Hospital at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, which is recognized as one of the top children's hospitals in New York.

Services & Programs

Pediatric Aerodigestive Program pediatric specialists provide expert care for children with complex medical problems involving the airway, lung and upper gastrointestinal tract, including:

Pulmonary Conditions

• Chronic cough
• Difficult asthma
• Recurrent, persistent wheeze
• Chronic aspiration
• Recurrent pneumonias
• Bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Gastrointestinal Conditions

• Acid reflux
• Difficult swallowing (dysphagia)
• Feeding problems
• Esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula

Otolaryngological (ENT) Conditions

• Stridor
• Apnea
• Laryngomalacia
• Laryngeal cleft
• Vocal cord paralysis
• Voice disorders
• Subglottic stenosis
• Tracheomalacia
• Tracheostomy dependence
• Craniofacial abnormalities causing airway obstruction and feeding difficulties

Diagnosis & Treatment

All medical specialists on your child's team meet to develop and review recommendations to provide a unified and consistent care plan. This coordinated care eliminates the typical stresses many parents encounter when navigating multiple visits to different medical specialists on their own.

A dedicated patient care coordinator assists your family across all phases of your child's care, scheduling related office visits and diagnostic procedures and serving as your point of contact.

We offer the following specialized diagnostic procedures and studies:

Pediatric Pulmonology

• Pulmonary function tests
• Spirometry
• Lung volume testing
• Diffusion testing
• Methacholine challenge testing
• Cardiopulmonary exercise testing
• Flexible bronchoscopy
• Upper and lower airway anatomy assessment for presence of increased secretions and infections
• Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL)
• Brush biopsies

Pediatric Gastroenterology

• Upper endoscopy
  • Assessment of the structure and health of the esophagus
• Diagnostic testing and interventions
  
  • Biopsy
  • pH impedance
  • Bravo test
• Therapeutic interventions
  • Dilatation
  • Botulinum toxin injection

Pediatric Otolaryngology (ENT)

• Nasopharyngoscopy
• Sinus and nasal anatomy evaluation
• Flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy
• Upper airway anatomy evaluation (i.e.throat, vocal cords)
• Direct laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy
• Upper and lower evaluation under anesthesia
• Assessment of anatomical defects that may require surgical correction:
• Laryngomalacia
• Laryngeal cleft
• Subglottic stenosis
• Tracheomalacia
• Tracheoesophageal fistula

Pediatric Speech and Swallowing

• Clinical swallowing evaluation
• Modified barium swallow examination

Pediatric Sleep Medicine

• Sleep evaluation, performed at the accredited Pediatric Sleep and Breathing Disorder Center, a dedicated Weill Cornell Medicine pediatric facility