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The care of children with ear, nose and throat disorders has always been an integral part of the Infirmary's Mission. The Infirmary was the first Boston hospital to encourage a parent to enter the operating room with their child during the induction of anesthesia. This "parent-in-the-O.R." program is coordinated by the Child Life specialist and is presently an integral part of anesthesia care at the Infirmary. The nursing staff on the inpatient floor, surgical units, and recovery rooms are committed to being "family-friendly." The nurses have a wealth of experience with pediatric patients who have surgery of the head and neck region.
The pediatric otolaryngology outpatient unit is specifically designed for children. From the decorations, to the two story climbing house in the waiting room, to the lollipop at the end of the visit, children and their families are made to feel welcome. Ancillary services at the Infirmary including audiology, radiology and the clinical laboratory are experienced in dealing with children. We are also fortunate to be adjacent to the Massachusetts General Hospital with its outstanding Pediatrics Service to provide any type of pediatric consultation, as well as neonatal and pediatric intensive care, when necessary.
The MEEI Pediatric Otolaryngology Service was established at the Infirmary in 1981. Thousands of pediatric outpatient encounters occur annually. The spectrum of conditions that are evaluated varies from quite common to quite rare. The more common problems include ear (otitis media) and sinus (rhinosinusitis) infections as well as the obstructive or infection disorders of the tonsils and adenoids. Less common but equally important conditions include congenital malformations and tumors of the head and neck region; hearing, breathing and voice disorders; and wide variety of other conditions requiring pediatric medical and surgical care.
The age range of patients seen is birth through adolescence although special exceptions are made for older patients with long standing conditions from their youth. The majority of patients referred to the service come from pediatric primary care providers. Referrals from fellow otolaryngologists and other specialty care providers from the New England region, elsewhere in the United States and outside country are also welcome as individual patient circumstances permit.
The faculty within the MEEI Pediatric Otolaryngology Service, care for children with a variety of airway, voice, and swallowing disorders. The following is a short list of some of the particular problems treated.
The MEEI Pediatric Otolaryngology Service participates in educational activities at multiple levels. A major commitment is to the education of residents in otolaryngology and pediatrics. Continuing medical education courses have also been given for attending level physicians, both in primary care as well as in otolaryngology. The service has received commendations from Harvard Medical School for such activities.
One member of the service participates at the national level, in formal continuing medical education in pediatrics as well as in otolaryngology. All the physicians lecture nationally and internationally on various subjects in pediatric otolaryngology. Educational volunteer work in developing nations has also received commendation from our specialty's national Academy.
The MEEI Pediatric Otolaryngology Service has a long standing interest in research.
Recent studies include
There are four full-time pediatric otolaryngologists at the Infirmary and all have extra training beyond the required otolaryngologic board certification in otolaryngology, including either training in general pediatrics or fellowship training in pediatric otolaryngology.
Each pediatric otolaryngologist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary cares for a broad range of pediatric patients with a broad variety of otolaryngologic conditions. Each physician also has special areas of interest. these are outlined below.
Dr. Michael Cunningham's particular interests are congenital and acquired airway problems and paranasal sinus disorders, as well as pediatric head and neck masses. He is also the pediatric otolaryngology representative on the MGH/MEEI hemangioma and vascular malformations clinic.
Dr. Roland Eavey specializes in problems of the ear, particularly malformed ears (microtia and aural atresia), sensorineural hearing loss (especially familial), cholesteatoma and other chronic ear conditions. (such as eardrum abnormalities, tumors and other ear related condition).
Dr. Christopher Hartnick specializes in pediatric airway management and voice problems, and in the use of endoscopic surgical techniques for these problems. Dr. Hartnick trained at the Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati under Dr. Robin Cotton. Dr. Hartnick's clinical and research activities focus on children with aerodigestive and voice disorders. In particular, he works closely with the Voice and Speech laboratory developing state of the art evaluation and treatment modalities for children with vocal cord nodules, vocal cord paralysis, and velopharyngeal insufficiency. He is also actively involved with projects geared to developing tissue engineered cartilage for laryngotracheal stenosis (for treating subglottic stenosis) as well as for using Mitomycin C as an adjunct to surgical treatment of upper airway scarring and stenosis
Dr. Leila Mankarious specializes in cleft palate surgery. She is also a member of the Infirmary's cochlear implantation team devoted to caring for children with profound hearing loss.
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