The CHEO Respirology Clinic is located in clinic C9. We see children from just after birth until their 18th birthday, with complex breathing problems such as asthma, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sleep apnea, and recurrent pneumonias. We also see technology-dependent children, such as children receiving home ventilation or home oxygen. The clinic is sometimes referred to as “the Chest Clinic” or “the Asthma Clinic.”
Important reminders
- If your child is on medications and/or inhaler devices (such as an Aerochamber) a device to treat them for sleep disordered breathing (such as CPAP or BiPAP), or other technologies (such as a suction machine or oxygen saturation monitor) please bring these with you.
- If your child is 6 years of age or older and can cooperate with the test, they will likely have a pulmonary function test (measuring their lungs by breathing into a computer) during the visit. If your child needs more complex testing, such as a sleep study or exercise test, these will be booked for a later date. Patients should avoid, if possible, using salbutamol (or Ventolin – the blue inhaler) for 4 hours prior to their visit to Respirology Clinic.
- Children with sleep-disordered breathing or behavioral sleep issues are seen in clinic C9 on certain days, only. Please note that children with the following problems are seen by Respirology in separate clinics:
- Children with complex airway issues such as a tracheostomy are seen by the Respirologist along with the rest of the Complex Airway Team in the Complex Airway Clinic
- Children with cystic fibrosis are seen in the cystic fibrosis clinic {hyperlink to CF clinic page}
- Children with muscular dystrophies are seen by the Respirologist along with the rest of the Neuromuscular Team in the Neuromuscular Clinic {hyperlink to Neuromuscular Clinic, if they have a page}
- Our clinic has an extremely limited ability to see children on an emergency basis. If your child is either being referred for a respiratory emergency, or is already followed by the Respirology Clinic and is suddenly unwell, we recommend you bring your child to an emergency department, or, if it’s less urgent, communicate with your community physician.
How to make a referral
Children and youth must be referred by a physician or nurse practitioner. Consults should be faxed to 613-738-4298. Consults should include detailed information about prior illnesses, such as:
- discharge summaries
- emergency department documentation
- other consultants’ reports
- laboratory results
- pulmonary function tests
- X-rays (if these took place outside CHEO).
If your child has had imaging (chest X-rays, CT scans, etc.) please provide the radiologist’s reportsand have the caregiver bring the images on a CD, if the images were taken at a site not linked electronically to CHEO (such as a private laboratory or in Quebec) – it’s essential that we are able to view the images. Please let us know if a translator is required. Please provide all available contact information for the caregivers, including cell phone numbers.
Contact us
- Main Clinic Reception (scheduling center) 613-737-7600 extension 2222
- Clinic Fax Number: 613-738-4298
Our staff will not provide information to families of children or youth not already seen by a CHEO Respirologist. After your child has been seen, we encourage you to register for CHEO My Chart and contact us though there.
- Respirology Clinic Nurse-Coordinator: Marc Tessier RN, 613-737-7600
- Home Ventilation Nurse-Practitioner: 613-737-7600
- Home Ventilation/Complex Lung Disease Respiratory Therapist: 613-737-7600 ext. 2984