When your child has trouble breathing, swallowing or eating, it can feel scary and unknown. At the Aerodigestive and Esophageal Center at Cincinnati Children's, you find clear answers and steady support.
Our surgeons, doctors, nurses and therapists focus only on complex airway and esophageal conditions. Families come from across the country for care that blends advanced treatment with real compassion.
Cincinnati Children’s opened the first aerodigestive program in 1999, inspiring centers across the country.
Today, we are the largest and most respected aerodigestive center in the world. Our surgeons and care team are known worldwide for their skill and outcomes.
Our pulmonary medicine program is ranked among the top in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. That national recognition reflects our focus on safety, quality and long-term results.
We care for children with esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula. We also treat esophageal stricture, aspiration, laryngeal cleft and subglottic stenosis.
Our team developed many advanced procedures, including triple scopes under one anesthesia event. We also offer complex airway reconstruction and colonic interposition for the most challenging cases.
We perform more airway reconstructions, triple scopes and bronchoscopies than any other unit in the world. That experience helps us plan safer procedures and more confident care plans.
Your child’s care begins with a detailed intake, led by our dedicated referral coordinator. They gather records, talk with you about goals, and learn your child’s full story. Then they connect you with the teams across Cincinnati Children's that are needed to treat your child, which can include experts in ear, nose and throat (ENT), gastroenterology, pulmonary medicine, pediatric surgery, speech-language pathology, nutrition services and more.
Each week our doctors, nurses, dietitians and therapists meet in conference to review plans together. You receive one clear, unified plan that treats your whole child, not just one symptom.
Many of our patients come from outside our local area, across the United States and beyond.
Our appointment and travel coordinators help with scheduling, housing and key details. They also connect you with hospital and community resources that ease the stress of travel.
Before you arrive, our team reviews your child’s history and plans needed tests and visits. This helps make each day here as efficient and calm as possible.
Many new families come for a second opinion after a long and hard journey.
We review past records, explain options in plain language and help you plan next steps. Many children stay with our team for years of follow-up visits and support.
3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3026
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