The resources for the Section include large inpatient and outpatient services, state-of-the-art laboratory support, a carefully organized educational program with a foundation in basic sciences, and a close inter-relationship with other sections within the Department of Pediatrics and other departments within the School of Medicine.

Pulmonology Laboratories

Pediatric Pulmonary Function Testing

The Riley Hospital Pediatric Pulmonary Function Laboratory is the only facility in the state devoted to the evaluation of lung function in children. The laboratory is equipped for the most up-to-date testing and can measure lung volumes and airflow, gas transfer and distribution, airway resistance and thoracic gas volume. Bronchial provocation testing with exercise and methacholine are performed routinely. Cold air challenge as well as helium oxygen flow-volume curves are available. Pulmonary function results are reviewed daily by a faculty physician with teaching input to fellows on interesting or unusual result.

Infant Pulmonary Function Testing

Robert S. Tepper, M.D., Ph.D. has established an infant testing laboratory using new techniques in the measurement of pulmonary function, lung volumes and pulmonary mechanics in infants. As applied to cystic fibrosis, this is a superb opportunity to begin to study the pulmonary changes in infants before gross abnormalities in clinical status and chest radiograph are obvious. The use of high resolution CT scanning has been added to the recent therapeutic and research activities. The fellows gain by working directly with Dr. Tepper in an area that is on the forefront of research into respiratory function.

Apnea and Sleep Disorders Laboratory

The section has an eight-bed polysomnography laboratory, which is newly renovated and equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, including EEG and gastric pH monitoring. Dr. Deborah Givan, specially trained and boarded in sleep medicine, is the medical director of the program. Care is taken to correlate abnormal results with the alteration of the physiological response in the patient. All fellows learn the basics of polysomnography and further training is available if desired by the individual fellows.

Flexible bronchoscopy

The section has an active program in pediatric flexible bronchoscopy with over 600 procedures completed yearly in the bronchoscopy suite. All attending physicians participate in the training of fellows to allow for proficiency in the technique of endoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage.