Pulmonology

Treating more than 14,000 patients a year, Riley's pediatric pulmonologists are the leading experts in the state in the diagnosis and treatment of infants, children and adolescents with acute and chronic respiratory disease - from moderate asthma to the most complex lung problems.

• Riley Asthma Care Center: The Riley Asthma Care Center treats children with moderate to severe asthma, offering an educational approach to asthma management that can help patients and their families take control of their asthma.
• Riley Infant Lung Center: At the Riley Infant Lung Center, a specially-trained team of pediatric clinicians provides pulmonary care for infants with chronic lung conditions and breathing problems. As the only program of its kind in the region, it coordinates care of the infant before discharge from the nursery, provides evaluation and treatment during the important period of infancy and continued care for those with chronic respiratory problems.
• Infant Lung Function Testing: Riley is the only children's hospital in the state, and one of the few in the country, with the capability to test lung function in infants.
• Children's Lung Function: One of the busiest diagnostic services in the country, the laboratory evaluates lung function in children as a guide for diagnosis and therapy. Spirometry, bronchodilator response, bronchoprovocation and metabolic exercise evaluations are used to assess children ages three and older.
• Bronchoscopy Program: Using state-of-the-art equipment, the Bronchoscopy Program evaluates infants with noisy breathing or distress. Functional dynamic assessment of the airway in children of all ages quickly pinpoints areas of concern and guides treatment options.
• Children's Sleep Disorders Center: The Children's Sleep Disorders Center offers state-of-the-art evaluation of sleep disorders of all kinds, including sleeplessness, arousal disorders, obstructive sleep apnea and narcolepsy. It is the only pediatric facility in Indiana accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. All of the resources are focused on meeting children's unique needs. The latest computerized equipment permits a wider variety of measurements than is typically available in adult sleep labs.
• Children's Apnea Program: The Children's Apnea Program has been in existence for nearly two decades as a hospital-based program with community outreach. It serves as the primary referral center for the evaluation of children with apnea in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio. Physician referral is requested so physicians at Riley can work cooperatively with the infant's primary physician.
• Methacholine Challenges: Riley offers a state-of-the-art pulmonary function laboratory for children. Riley physicians frequently perform methacholine challenges to determine a patient's airway reactivity, an essential component of asthma.
• Exercise Challenges: Riley also evaluates children who have problems with exercise, including children with a most rare condition of exercise-induced anaphylaxis.