Caring for children with airway and digestive disorders

Learn how our Gastroenterology, Liver and Nutrition Program cares for children with airway and digestive disorders.

• What are airway and digestive disorders?
• Caring for children with eosinophilic esophagitis
• Caring for children with eosinophilic gastroenteritis

Related tests and treatments:

• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
• Esophageal manometry
• EndoFLIP (endoluminal functional lumen imaging probe)
• Fiber optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing
• pH-impedance probe test
• Video fluoroscopy swallow study
• Surgery

Our approach to airway and digestive disorders

Children with airway and digestive disorders have special needs. Because of the complexity of these conditions, which can affect breathing, swallowing and feeding, we use a team-based approach. Our team includes ear, nose and throat doctors; gastroenterologists; pulmonologists; speech pathologists; dieticians; and pediatric and cardiothoracic surgeons who work together to diagnose and treat patients.

At Children’s Wisconsin’s Aerodigestive and Foregut Center, patients can see all of their assigned specialists in a single day. This one-stop approach not only helps us deliver the best, most comprehensive care, it also makes life much easier for our patients and their families by reducing clinic visits. Our aerodigestive experts are so well-known in their fields that patients come from around the United States and beyond to seek our help.

Airway and digestive disorders services we offer

Our airway and digestive disorders team can help in many ways, including:

• Diagnosis and evaluation
• Customized treatment plan
• Advanced endoscopic procedures
• Nutritional counseling
• Surgical services

Diagnosing and treating airway and digestive disorders

After taking a complete medical history and reviewing previous records, our team of airway and digestive disorders experts will evaluate your child’s airway, esophagus and gastrointestinal tract. Diagnostic tests could include:

• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
• Esophageal manometry
• EndoFLIP (endoluminal functional lumen imaging probe)
• Fiber optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing
• pH-impedance probe test
• Video fluoroscopy swallow study

Our team approach allows our specialists to coordinate procedures to minimize how many times your child needs anesthesia, and we closely collaborate so that you leave with a clear treatment plan from the team. Treatment varies depending on your child’s needs, but it often includes medication and surgery. Any necessary surgeries are usually scheduled for the week following the initial evaluation.