Complex Airway Reconstruction Program

The Complex Airway Reconstruction Program at Children’s National Hospital provides comprehensive, compassionate care for infants, children and adolescents with breathing or airway problems.

Children’s National is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 10 pediatric hospitals in the nation, and our ENT department has decades of experience caring for children with airway disorders that affect their ability to breathe, eat or swallow normally.

Our Providers

Our pediatric specialists provide personalized care for your child’s physical, mental and emotional health needs.

Meet the Team

Contact Information

To make an appointment, please call 1-888-884-BEAR (2327). For information, call 202-476-2159.

Appointments Information

Conditions We Treat

Understanding your child's condition is an important step on your treatment journey. Learn more about causes, symptoms and diagnosis for a variety of conditions, as well as unique treatments and research being performed at Children's National.

Subglottic stenosis	Congenital airway anomalies
Tracheal stenosis	Airway obstruction related to vascular or aerodigestive conditions
Laryngeal stenosis	Complications related to tracheostomy
Laryngomalacia	Acquired airway injury or scarring
Tracheomalacia	Complex airway disorders requiring reconstruction

A Multidisciplinary, Team-Based Approach

Children with airway disorders often require care from multiple specialties. Our program brings experts from multiple departments together to coordinate care efficiently and safely. Your child’s airway team may include:

This collaborative approach allows us to address breathing, feeding, voice and growth — not just the airway itself.

Advanced Diagnostic Evaluation

We use state-of-the-art tools to understand your child’s airway and guide treatment, including:

Flexible and rigid endoscopy
Operative airway evaluation
Imaging studies as needed
Swallowing and feeding assessments
Pulmonary and gastrointestinal (digestive system) evaluations

Surgical and Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Depending on your child’s condition, treatment may include:

Careful monitoring and medical management
Endoscopic airway procedures
Open airway reconstruction
Tracheostomy (placing a small tube into a surgically-made opening in the neck that leads directly to the windpipe to help your child breathe)
Decannulation (removing a tracheostomy tube when your child can breathe on their own)
Post-operative and long-term airway follow-up

Meet Our Airway Experts

Chief, Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose and Throat)
Director, Complex Airway Reconstruction Program
Co-Director, Cochlear Implant and Hearing Restoration Program
Otolaryngologist

Diego Preciado, MD, PhD, is an internationally recognized pediatric ENT surgeon with extensive expertise in airway reconstruction and advanced airway surgery. He leads the airway program at Children’s National and oversees a large, high-volume pediatric airway practice.

His clinical focus includes:

Complex pediatric airway reconstruction
Endoscopic and open airway surgery
Congenital and acquired airway disorders
Multidisciplinary airway care

Dr. Preciado is also a nationally respected researcher and educator, helping advance the science and surgical care of pediatric airway disease.

Director, Aerodigestive Clinic
Director, Vascular Anomalies Clinic
Otolaryngologist

Nancy Bauman, MD, is a highly experienced pediatric otolaryngologist with deep expertise in complex airway and aerodigestive conditions. She co-founded the Aerodigestive Clinic at Children’s National and has spent decades caring for children whose airway conditions are closely linked to feeding, swallowing and gastrointestinal disorders.

Her expertise includes:

Complex laryngeal and tracheal disorders
Multidisciplinary airway evaluation
Vascular and aerodigestive airway conditions
Long-term airway management

Dr. Bauman is widely known for her leadership in airway education and her commitment to family-centered care.

Emeritus Chief, Ear, Nose and Throat (Otolaryngology)
Otolaryngologist

George Zalzal, MD, is an internationally recognized leader and pioneer in pediatric airway surgery whose work helped establish Children’s National as a global referral center for complex airway disorders. With over decades of clinical practice, Dr. Zalzal has cared for thousands of children with congenital and acquired airway conditions and played a central role in advancing modern pediatric airway reconstruction.

Dr. Zalzal’s expertise includes:

Complex pediatric airway obstruction and stenosis
Laryngotracheal reconstruction and open airway surgery
Endoscopic airway evaluation and management
Long-term airway outcomes and multidisciplinary airway care

In addition to his clinical contributions, Dr. Zalzal is a dedicated educator and mentor to generations of pediatric otolaryngologists, shaping airway care practices both nationally and internationally.

Surgical Director, Thyroid Nodule and Thyroid Cancer Clinic
Director, Voice and Vocal Cord Mobility Program
Otolaryngologist

Pamela Mudd, MD, is a fellowship-trained pediatric otolaryngologist who directs the Voice and Vocal Cord Mobility Clinic at Children’s National. She specializes in the evaluation and treatment of pediatric voice disorders and vocal cord movement conditions, which are closely connected to breathing, communication and airway function.

Dr. Mudd’s clinical expertise includes:

Pediatric voice disorders and hoarseness
Vocal cord immobility and paralysis
Paradoxical vocal fold motion and breathing-related voice conditions
Voice changes related to growth, development or medical conditions
Surgical and non-surgical voice restoration strategies

She works closely with pediatric speech-language pathologists and other specialists to provide coordinated, family-centered care. Dr. Mudd’s goal is to help children achieve the best possible voice quality, breathing comfort and communication confidence as part of their overall airway health.

Patient Stories

Caring for the Senses to Support Children's Development

Diego Preciado, MD, PhD, chief of Otolaryngology and Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Professor of Pediatric Otolaryngology, aims to set the gold standard for care of a child's ear, nose and throat (ENT) — pathways to the senses.

View all stories

Locations

Main Hospital

111 Michigan Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20010

1-888-884-2327

Emergency Department Info

Specialty Care
Emergency Care

D.C. Skyline featuring the Washington Monument and Kennedy Center

Commitment to Education and Innovation

Children’s National is a leader in airway education and training. Each year, we host an internationally attended Pediatric Airway Surgery Course in Washington, D.C., bringing together pediatric airway experts from around the world to share advances in airway diagnosis, endoscopic techniques and reconstructive surgery. This commitment to education ensures our patients benefit from the most current and innovative airway care available.

Learn more about this course

Advice From Our Experts

Want advice on raising healthy, happy kids? The experts at Children's National are here for you! Get reliable advice from trusted doctors on the Rise and Shine blog. We're sharing our knowledge on everything from children's health to practical parenting tips.

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