Pediatric ENT Details
Dr. V is an expert at treating all problems in children (as well as adults) that they may encounter in the head and neck region including:
- Disorders of lymph noses
- Parotid disorders
- Thyroid disease
- Salivary gland disorders
- Cysts/fistulas
- Tumors of the head and neck
- Craniofacial malformations
- Congenital malformations of the head and neck
- Snoring and sleep disorders
- Developmental delays
- Injury and trauma to the head and neck
- Communication and speech disorders
- Swallowing disorders
- Hemangiomas
- Lymphangiomas
- Plagiocephaly
- Craniosynostosis
- Facial weakness and paralysis
- Port wine stains
- Enlarged or infected lymph noses
- Neck cysts and masses
- Tracheostomy
- Laryngomalcia
- Laryngeal clefts
A deforming birth defect has a devastating lifelong psychological and physical impact upon not only a child but their parents as well. Plastic surgery can improve or correct many birth defects however the timing of surgery is the deciding factor achieving a successful outcome. For this reason, if your child has a birth defect an early consultation with Dr. V should be sought at The Virginia Institute of Surgical Arts. Pediatric plastic surgery is a great tool for correcting congenital birth defects because it can improve or correct many of the deformities and create a better quality of life for both parent and child.
Dr. V has training in pediatric craniofacial surgery, and facial trauma injuries in children and adolescents including:
Cleft Lip/Cleft Palate
Cleft lip/cleft palate is one of the more common congenital defects in the United States and around the world. Anomalies of the heart and other organs are found in a substantial percentage of cleft lip/cleft palate patients and cleft lip may occur alone or in conjunction with cleft palate. This congenital defect ranges from mildly disfiguring to a bilateral complete cleft with nasal deformity involving the hard palate and teeth. Lip repair can be performed any time after birth and secondary surgery may be necessary for repair of a nasal deformity or additional repair as the patient grows and develops.
Pigmented Lesions of the Skin
Pigmented lesions in a newborn are difficult to interpret regarding their present or potential malignancy and that is why early consultation provides more treatment options. Large congenital nevi present a significant risk of early malignancy and large (sometimes hairy) nevi are physically uncomfortable for the parent and child. Surgical excision with skin grafting is often a treatment of choice for these issues.
Malformations of the Ear
Ear malformations, such as microtia, can severely affect your child’s self-image especially if the condition is allowed to go uncorrected as the child grows older. Microtia causes malformed or missing ears and can be associated with severe hearing defects. Microtia is usually apparent at birth and it is seen as a “remnant” ear lobule, concha, acoustic meatus, tragus, and incisura intertragica. Bilateral microtia may be associated with severe hearing defects that require consultation with an otologist such as Dr. V. After microtia is identified, reconstruction is often recommended and because autologous rib cartilage is commonly used to form a new ear framework, reconstruction usually occurs between the ages of 5-6 when rib growth is adequate. The ultimate success of microtic reconstruction depends upon selecting the proper material for the ear framework and Dr. V’s skill and detailed attention in the intraoperative and postoperative periods to prevent complications such as skin flap necrosis, infection, a
nd unnecessary ear pressure.
Lip and Nasal Deformity Repair
Children diagnosed with cleft lip or palate can also suffer the affects of associated nasal deformity and these malformations create obvious cosmetic problems as well as impaired nasal airflow. A consultation with Dr. V will educate parents on how plastic surgery will benefit their child for this deformity.
Revisional Cleft Repair Surgery
Revisional cleft repair is performed when the previous repair of the cleft causes symmetry issues or an unsightly appearance due to scarring. In most cases, the initial repair of an infant’s lip is performed at approximately three months and often the scar will remain contracted upward towards the nose, giving the appearance of the lip being too short on one side. If asymmetry is still present after one year, you may want to consider revisional cleft repair surgery.
From newborns through adolescence, at The Virginia Institute of Surgical Arts we diagnose and treat a variety of pediatric problems involving the ears, nose, throat, and other parts of the head and neck. Your child deserves high quality, specialized care and Dr. V stays current on all surgical techniques so she is able to offer the latest advances in medical technology. Some pediatric problems are common while others require special knowledge so for less complex problems to the more complicated issues, such as cleft palate, facial trauma injuries, and craniofacial surgery: Dr. V is specially trained in the area of pediatric ENT conditions as well as plastic surgery. Within a trusting and compassionate environment, The Virginia Institute of Surgical Arts is committed to providing a variety of diagnostic and treatment options. Dr. V believes in providing expert care with a personal touch and she will always work closely with you and your child to coordinate services and ensure you receive the professional treatment you need. She will also go out of her way to answer any questions you have and make sure you and your child are as comfortable as possible during all the stages of your care so please call The Virginia Institute of Surgical Arts today.
