PEDIATRIC EAR, NOSE, THROAT & AIRWAY SURGERY - CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN PEDIATRIC AIRWAY SURGERIES (CEPAS)
Pediatric ENT & Airway Surgery in Chennai
Airway problems are very common in Children. It can be congenital or acquired. Pediatric Airway surgeries are very challenging and need a dedicated team comprising Pediatric ENT & Airway surgeon, Anesthesiologists and Intensivists.
Centre of Excellence in Pediatric Airway Surgeries (CEPAS)
KKCTH has a dedicated Pediatric Airway team headed by Renowned Airway Surgeon Dr. S. Thirunavukkarasu. We have round the clock pediatric ENT Emergency services
Our hospital is equipped with all kinds of Flexible and Rigid Airway Endoscopes, Microscopes and Micro laryngeal instruments.
Apart from Routine Pediatric ENT surgeries like Adenoidectomy, Tonsillectomy, Mastoidectomy, we do specialized Airway surgeries.
Specialized treatments offered:
- Supraglottoplasty for Laryngomalacia
- Laryngotracheal reconstructive Surgeries for Subglottic stenosis and Tracheal stenosis
- Endoscopic Balloon Laryngoplasty and Tracheoplasty
- Kashima Procedure for Bilateral vocal cord palsy
- Cyst and Tumour Excision in the Airway
- Laryngeal Web repair
- Laryngotracheo esophageal cleft repair
- Endoscopic repair and glue application for recurrent TEF
- We are specialized in Tracheostomy Closure after correcting primary problems.
- Bronchoscopy and Telescopic Foreign body Removal.
- We do swallowing and feeding assessment (Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing-FEES, Video Fluoroscopic Swallow Study-VFSS)
- We have a specialized Audiological unit and do complete hearing assessment, Speech & Language Assessment and Therapy.
The Department of Pediatric ENT and Airway surgery offers quaternary care for all the ailments in children holistically.
Leading Pediatric ENT Specialists You Can Trust
KKCTH pediatric ENT doctors combine compassionate care with advanced, proven expertise. We treat children with ear, nose, and throat problems, from common infections to complex airway disorders. Every child receives gentle, personalised care in a safe and comforting environment, helping families feel supported and reassured.
CME Sessions
Topic 4:
Genetics and Oropharyngeal Dysphagia Feeding Disorders Evaluation and Treatment
Watch VideoTopic 6:
Case Study Discussions — Speakers: Lauren, Natalie, C. Rappazzo, Cathy Turk, Dr. Raol, Dr. Mehta
Watch Video
Consultants
Visiting Consultant
Pediatric ENT
Pediatric ENT
Swallowing Therapist
Pediatric ENT
FAQ
- KKCTH's Centre of Excellence in Paediatric Airway Surgeries (CEPAS) treats the complete spectrum of upper and lower airway pathology in children, from laryngomalacia to complex tracheal stenosis.
- Conditions managed by Dr. S. Thirunavukkarasu (Head of Department, Paediatric ENT & Airway) and the CEPAS team include: laryngomalacia (supraglottoplasty), subglottic and tracheal stenosis (laryngotracheal reconstruction), bilateral vocal cord palsy (Kashima procedure), laryngeal webs, laryngotracheo-oesophageal cleft, recurrent tracheo-oesophageal fistula, airway haemangiomas and tumours, tracheostomy placement and decannulation, and bronchial foreign body removal. The department provides round-the-clock paediatric ENT emergency services.
- Yes. KKCTH is equipped with a comprehensive range of flexible and rigid airway endoscopes, including micro-laryngeal instruments for interventional and diagnostic procedures.
- Flexible laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy enable visualisation of dynamic airway behaviour, swallowing function (Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing, FEES), and foreign body location. Rigid bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia is the gold standard for paediatric foreign body removal and interventional airway procedures such as balloon dilation and endoscopic laser surgery. The unit has successfully removed foreign bodies (including LED lights and other objects) from the bronchi of children referred from other hospitals where retrieval had failed.
- A child should be evaluated by a paediatric ENT specialist when symptoms such as noisy breathing, chronic snoring, recurrent throat or ear infections, voice abnormalities, or feeding difficulties persist or recur beyond expected resolution.
- Specific indicators include: stridor (noisy breathing since birth), obstructive sleep apnoea, recurrent acute otitis media (more than 4 episodes per year), chronic glue ear with hearing impairment, recurrent tonsillitis meeting surgical criteria, nasal obstruction, speech delay secondary to hearing loss, or any suspicion of a neck or airway mass. Early ENT assessment prevents complications and improves long-term developmental outcomes, particularly with respect to hearing and speech.
- Yes. Laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) for subglottic and tracheal stenosis is a core expertise of KKCTH's CEPAS programme, led by Dr. Thirunavukkarasu.
- LTR involves cartilage grafting (typically from the rib) to widen a narrowed segment of the airway. Depending on severity, single-stage or two-stage procedures may be indicated with the latter involving a temporary tracheostomy that is later decannulated once the reconstructed airway is stable. Endoscopic techniques including balloon laryngoplasty and tracheoplasty are employed as first-line management for appropriate cases and as adjuncts to open surgery.
- Yes. KKCTH has a specialised Audiological Unit offering comprehensive hearing evaluation for children of all ages, including infants as young as a few days old.
- The audiological services include Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) and Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing for neonatal and infant hearing screening, behavioural audiometry for older children, tympanometry for middle ear assessment, and fitting of hearing aids where indicated. Speech and Language Assessment and Therapy are also provided within the same department, enabling coordinated management of communication disorders associated with hearing impairment.
- Anaesthesia for infant ENT and airway procedures at KKCTH is administered by paediatric anaesthetists with specific training in airway management, making it as safe as possible in dedicated hands.
- Airway surgery in infants demands precise co-management between the ENT surgeon and anaesthetist, as the shared airway poses unique challenges. KKCTH's anaesthesiology team (led by Dr. S. Ramesh, MD) has extensive experience with microlaryngoscopy, rigid bronchoscopy under spontaneous ventilation, and jet ventilation techniques. The induction room is equipped to accommodate a parent's presence until the child is asleep, reducing procedural anxiety.