The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) offers a dedicated programme for diagnosing and treating breathing difficulties in both children and adults. Our team of expert doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals work together to provide comprehensive care for a wide range of airway problems.
Who can benefit from this programme?
Children and adults experiencing:
- Difficulty breathing: This could be due to various reasons, such as birth defects, injuries, infections, or tumours (e.g., subglottic stenosis, bilateral vocal cord paralysis, etc).
- Sleep apnea: This condition causes breathing to stop and start repeatedly during sleep, leading to poor sleep quality and daytime fatigue.
- Blocked airways: This can be caused by enlarged tonsils or adenoids, allergies, or other issues.
- Facial injuries or birth defects: These can affect the airway and require specialised reconstruction.
What services are offered?
The programme offers a variety of services, including:
- Diagnosis: Using advanced technology and tests to identify the underlying cause of breathing problems.
- Non-surgical treatments: Including medications, therapies, and lifestyle changes to improve breathing.
- Open and endoscopic airway reconstruction: Both traditional surgical procedures and minimally invasive techniques using LASER, cameras, and specialised instruments to address airway problems.
What are the benefits of open and endoscopic airway reconstruction?
- Minimally invasive: Endoscopic procedures offer smaller incisions, resulting in quicker recovery times and less scarring.
- Improved outcomes: Both techniques aim to restore proper breathing function and improve overall quality of life.
Our Multidisciplinary Team
Our multidisciplinary team combines the expertise of various specialists, including:
- Otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat specialists)
- Anaesthesiologists
- Pulmonologists (lung specialists)
- Speech therapists
To learn more about our highly trained and skilled experts, search on Find a Doctor under the speciality of ENT (Otolaryngology).
Next steps: If you have concerns about an airway problem, consult your doctor to discuss if a referral to the AKUH Paediatric and Adult Airway Programme is right for you.
