Pediatric pulmonology
Pediatric pulmonologists diagnose and treat breathing problems in children. This includes an array of acute and chronic conditions that affect the lungs, ranging from difficult or noisy breathing to serious problems like sleep apnea and asthma.
Pediatric pulmonary care in Wichita
Pediatric pulmonology is a medical specialty that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic respiratory conditions affecting children from birth to 18 years old.
Through Wesley Children's Hospital, Wesley Healthcare offers pediatric neonatal-trained respiratory therapists and a pediatric pulmonologist to provide this specialized care in Wichita.
Related specialties
Learn more about our related specialties.
Pediatric pulmonologists also see children who have breathing problems associated with heart disease, neuromuscular disorders and injuries. Our pulmonology specialists work closely with other specialists in heart care, ENT (ear, nose and throat), neurology, allergy and neonatology when developing a care plan.
Pulmonology diagnostic procedures have undergone major improvements in recent years and now lead to a better understanding of breathing disorders and more effective treatments. To aid in the diagnosis, our pulmonologists examine your child’s respiratory and cardiac systems and use pulmonary function tests, lab tests, chest X-rays and special procedures to view the airway.
Pediatric pulmonology conditions we treat
Our pediatric lung care specialists in Wichita treat a wide range of conditions, including:
- Apnea
- Asthma
- Bronchitis and bronchiolitis
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia/chronic lung disease of prematurity
- Chronic cough
- Congenital lung abnormalities
- Chronic respiratory failure
- Cystic fibrosis
- Neuromuscular respiratory disease
- Pneumonia
- Primary ciliary dyskinesia
- Reactive airway disease (RAD)
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
Pediatric pulmonology tests procedures and services
Wesley Children’s Hospital provides the following pulmonology tests and procedures:
- Flexible fiber optic bronchoscopy
- Imaging studies
- Oxygen and carbon dioxide monitoring
- Pulmonary function testing
- Sweat test
- Bronchoalveolar lavage
- Laryngoscopy
- Thoracentesis
- Home ventilator management
Pediatric critical care
Children admitted to critical care present failure of one or more body organ systems and may have acute or chronic illnesses. Wesley pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) provides around-the-clock comprehensive intensive care services for children of all ages, and our board-certified pediatric critical care physicians provide in-house coverage 24/7.
The PICU team is composed of many different and important disciplines such as nursing, pharmacy, respiratory therapy, nutrition, social work and care management. The PICU also provides higher nurse-to-patient ratios, with many patients receiving one-to-one nursing care. Parents are encouraged to participate in their child’s daily rounds to improve communication and education.
Our critical care services include:
- Management of life support for mechanically ventilated children
- Therapeutic and diagnostic procedures for children with heart and lung diseases
- Ground and flight transport for the most critical children
- Administration of specialty gases
- Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT)
- Multiple mechanical ventilation options
- Bedside bronchoscopy
Outpatient Bronchiolitis Clinics
Bronchiolitis is an infection of the lower airways that is usually caused by a virus. The infection irritates the lower airways and causes excess mucus production and swelling of the airways.
Initial symptoms are similar to that of the common cold and can include a stuffy or runny nose, mild cough and low fever. After a couple of days, the cough can get worse and babies may develop a wheeze. (Wheezing is a whistling-like sound when the baby breathes.) Breathing can become difficult for children as the mucus production increases and becomes thick. Symptoms generally begin to clear after seven to 10 days.
To help with the removal of excess nasal mucus, Wesley provides Outpatient Bronchiolitis Clinics to help clear your baby’s airways using our hospitals’ powerful suction equipment.
The clinics are for babies 24 months old and younger. The clinics are open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day and are located at each of Wesley Healthcare’s emergency room locations. Babies need a physician referral to Wesley’s Outpatient Bronchiolitis Clinics. Physician offices may fax the order to Wesley at (316) 962-7827.
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