Overview
The Complex Sleep Apnea Program at Rady Children’s Hospital–San Diego offers comprehensive, state-of-the-art evaluation and treatment for children who continue to experience obstructive sleep apnea despite conventional therapies. Our goal is to understand why a child is struggling and to provide a clear, personalized path toward better sleep and better health.
This specialized program is part of the Center for Healthy Sleep, which provides comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for pediatric sleep disorders.
A Truly Multidisciplinary Approach
Children with complex sleep conditions benefit from the combined expertise of specialists across Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Otolaryngology, Plastic Surgery and Craniofacial Surgery, and Pediatric Dentistry. By working together, our team develops individualized treatment plans that address each child’s unique anatomy, medical history, and sleep study findings.
Our collaborative team includes:
- Respiratory & Sleep Medicine: Daniel Lesser, M.D.; Rakesh Bhattacharjee, M.D.
- Otolaryngology (ENT): Ethan Frank, M.D.; Tina Friesen, M.D.
- Plastic & Craniofacial Surgery: Melissa Kanack, M.D.; Benjamin Massenburg, M.D.
- Pediatric Dentistry: Darshan Dabir, D.D.S.
How We Help
- Respiratory & Sleep Medicine: Interpret sleep studies, evaluate candidacy for positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, and determine whether additional testing or treatment of associated conditions is needed.
- Otolaryngology (ENT): Perform detailed assessments of the upper airway using in-office laryngoscopy and sleep endoscopy to identify sites of obstruction.
- Craniofacial Surgery: Evaluate facial skeletal structures, such as the midface or mandible, to identify craniofacial features contributing to airway obstruction.
- Pediatric Dentistry: Assess candidacy for oral expansion therapies and mandibular advancement devices (oral appliance therapy).
- Surgical Specialists: Provide advanced surgical options and implantable device therapies shown to significantly improve sleep-related breathing disorders in appropriate candidates.
Conditions We Treat
- Upper airway obstruction in children with risk factors for sleep-disordered breathing, including Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and neurologic conditions
- Residual obstructive sleep apnea after adenotonsillectomy
- Sleep apnea related to craniofacial conditions, such as Pierre Robin sequence or Treacher Collins syndrome
- Complex sleep apnea
- Obstructive hypoventilation
- Sleep-disordered breathing
*Appointments are by referral only.