What to Expect

Testing and Treatments

• Pulmonary Function Testing (also known as lung function testing) is used to help diagnose and treat asthma and other lung problems in kids over age five. Tests include spirometry, whole body plethysmo-graphy, single and multiple breath nitrogen washout, carbon monoxide diffusion capacity, respiratory muscle strength and lung compliance.

• Bronchoscopy is an outpatient procedure performed in the Swedish Pediatric Intensive Care Unit that allows us to look at your child's airways and lungs to find the cause of chronic problems.

• Polysomnography, which requires an overnight stay in the sleep lab, is a sleep study used to diagnose breathing problems your child might have while asleep. Special equipment measures the movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide in and out of the lungs, heart rate, and other parameters during various stages of sleep.

• Imaging (radiology) testing such as chest X-rays, CT scans, or ventilation-perfusion scans are used to help us evaluate the underlying anatomy and function of your child's lungs.

About Our Program

If your child has asthma, an ongoing cough, or experiences wheezing, shortness of breath or chest tightness we conduct a thorough evaluation and design an individualized treatment plan to address your child's specific needs. We provide comprehensive asthma education and develop an "Asthma Action Plan" for ongoing management. If your child has already been diagnosed with asthma we can provide a second opinion and evaluate your child's current treatment plan.

The Pediatric Sleep Center 

Children with trouble sleeping may have respiratory problems. Our Pediatric Sleep Center ahs a board-certified pediatric sleep specialist and all the latest technology to diagnose and treat a range of pediatric sleep disorders, including sleep-disordered breathing, snoring and sleep apnae.