(Left to right) Cheryl Hersh, Shannon Fracchia, MD, Christopher Hartnick, MD, Jean Ashland, PhD, Steven Hardy, MD 

Welcome to the Airway, Voice and Swallowing Center 

We hope you find this patient guide helpful.  If at any time you wish to call us directly, please do so at  (617) 573-4206.  We look forward to serving the needs of your child and your family. 

• The Center addresses congenital and acquired disorders of the aero-digestive tract that may affect the ability of some children to eat, breathe or speak.
• These disorders include but are not limited to chronic cough, recurrent croup, feeding difficulties, sleep disorders and breathing difficulties.

• The causes of these disorders may be straight-forward but, often are complex and cross the domains of several subspecialties within pediatrics, including pediatric otolaryngology, gastroenterology and pulmonology.
• The Airway, Voice and Swallowing Center is a multi-disciplinary collaboration between the Mass. Eye and Ear . and the MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGH) offering a center that focuses on enhanced and improved care for these children by allowing the child to see several specialist during one visit. 

• Christopher Hartnick, M.D., M.S. Epi.
  • Division Chief, Pediatric Otolaryngology – Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
  • 617-573-4206
• M.Shannon Fracchia, M.D.
  • Pediatric Pulmonologist – MassGeneral Hospital for Children
  • 617-726-8707
• Jyoti Ramakrishna, M.D.
  • Pediatric Gastroenterologist - MassGeneral Hospital for Children
  • 617-726-8705
• Jean Ashland, Ph.D.
  • Speech Pathologist - MassGeneral Hospital for Children
  • 617-726-2751
• Cheryl Hersh
  • Speech Pathologist - MassGeneral Hospital for Children
  • 617-716-2751
• Abigail Donovan, M.D.
  • Child Psychiatrist - MassGeneral Hospital for Children
  • 617-726-2725 

• A referral is usually made by your child’s pediatrician or another specialist.
• Our center sees patients all day, each Tuesday, at the Mass. Eye and Ear.
• The appointment can be made by calling 617-573-4206.
• Since the clinic is a collaboration between Mass. Eye and Ear and MassGeneral Hospital for Children. Your child must also register at Mass General as well. You can register your child by calling 866-211-6588. This will allow all the specialists to see your child during your visit to Mass. Eye and Ear.  

• You can expect to spend several hours at the Airway Center for your visit in order to accommodate the multiple consultations, testing and procedures. It is recommended that you bring toys, snacks, formula, diapers, etc. for your child to help to occupy the time. There is an activity area as well as movies available for viewing. A cafeteria is available for patients on our 7th floor.
• You will arrive to the Mass.  Eye and Ear, 2nd floor, Pediatric ENT Department. 
• Please bring a list of medications as well as any testing you may have previously received.
• Once you are called into a room, you can expect to be interviewed by the nursing staff who will obtain a detailed history. 
• Following the interview and depending on your child’s condition, you can expect to see specialists from gastroenterology, otolaryngology, pulmonology, speech and language pathology, audiology or radiology. 
• Every attempt will be made to optimize your visit here by allowing time to see the appropriate specialists during your visit. We may also refer to other sub-specialists for further evaluation. These consults will likely occur on a separate occasion. 

• Laryngoscopy
• Pulmonary Function Testing
• X-ray or CT study
• Feeding, Speech evaluation
• Modified Barium Swallow 
• pH probe or Bravo study
• Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD) -also referred to as Paradoxical Vocal Cord Motion (PVFM) 
• Laryngoscopy-Endoscopy-Bronchoscopy - often referred to as a Triple Endoscopy
• Tonsillectomy
• Adenoidectomy
• Tube placement

Day of Procedure

On the day of your child’s procedure, you will be instructed to check in on Pediatric unit at Mass. Eye and Ear.  The secretary will give you a time.  This unit is located on the 10th floor. 

• Once checked in, your child will be asked to change into a gown and await his transfer to the O.R.
• When the procedures are done, your child will be brought into the post anesthesia care unit (PACU) where the nurses will monitor them until they are fully awake.
• There is a playroom and many activities available on the pediatric unit to entertain your child while they await their procedure. 
• Every effort is made to stay on schedule, occasionally there may be a longer wait time than usual. We will keep you informed if this occurs. 
• You may accompany your child to the holding area as well into the O.R. and stay until they fall asleep.  
• One parent will be allowed to stay with their child during this time.
• One of the physicians will give you a brief summary of what was seen and done during the procedure.
• When your child is fully awake, they will return to the 10th floor pediatric unit until your child is able to tolerate fluids and is able to urinate.
• Depending on individual circumstances, some children will be kept overnight to recover from the procedure.

Airway, Voice and Swallowing

• About Us
• Meet the Staff
• Making an Appointment
• Tests and Procedures
• What to Expect Day of Procedure
• Airway Education
• Airway Research
• Surgical Pre-and-Post Operative Instructions
• Video Gallery