Health Resources

Airway Problems (Children)

2025/01/13
About The Condition
Noisy breathing, difficulty with feeding and voice issues in children often co-exist. These symptoms can be life-threatening or significantly delay a child’s growth and development. Sometimes, these symptoms, resulting from underlying airway anomalies such as narrowing and tumours, may be incorrectly diagnosed as asthma or recurrent infections.
Diagnosis and Treatment Options

In our clinic, a flexible nasoendoscopy is performed to identify the obstruction site. Additionally, airway X-rays might be required. Our speech and swallowing therapist evaluates any associated voice and feeding difficulties. In some cases, a rigid bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia is necessary.

We strive to circumvent the need for an artificial airway opening in the neck (tracheotomy) wherever possible, allowing the child to breathe, speak and socialise normally.

Historically, the surgical options for children with airway issues were limited. Currently, our doctors are able to offer the expertise to conduct complex airway reconstruction surgeries.

Techniques such as rib grafts, wire and silicone stents, and resection-anastomosis surgery are available and can also benefit adults.

A multi-disciplinary team, including ENT, respiratory, various surgery sub-specialties, gastroenterology, genetics, speech and swallow experts, collaborate to streamline the evaluation process, minimise investigation duration and optimise treatment strategies. Perioperatively, expert care from NUH’s Neonatal and Paediatric Intensive Care Units is readily available.
Doctors
A/Prof Loh Woei Shyang

A/Prof Loh Woei Shyang
Head of Department,
Senior Consultant

​Dr Annabelle Tay Sok Yan

Dr Annabelle Tay Sok Yan
Senior Consultant

​Dr Shih E'Ching

Dr Shih E'Ching
Consultant

Last updated on
Best viewed with Chrome 79.0, Edge 112.0, Firefox 61.0, Safari 11
National University Health System
  • National University Hospital
  • Ng Teng Fong General Hospital
  • Alexandra Hospital
  • Jurong Community Hospital
  • National University Polyclinics
  • Jurong Medical Centre
  • National University Cancer Institute, Singapore
  • National University Heart Centre, Singapore
  • National University Centre for Oral Health, Singapore
  • NUHS Diagnostics
  • NUHS Pharmacy
  • Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
  • Faculty of Dentistry
  • Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health
Back to Top