EAST TENNESSEE HEALTHCARE PROFILES

Partners in Your Child’s Health

2018 Clinch Avenue Knoxville, TN 37916

etch.com

The physicians of East Tennessee

Children’s Hospital understand that

every child is special, and they have the

compassion, technology, and training

needed to provide the best possible care.

Serving the East Tennessee community

since 1937, the Joint Commission-certified

Hospital is dedicated to the total health

of infants, children, and adolescents.

Restoring a Good Night’s Rest “Children’s medical and emotional needs are unique, and this is especially true when dealing with sleep issues,” says Dr. Ehab Mansoor, a pediatric sleep medicine specialist. When children experience difficulty falling or staying asleep, difficulty breathing when sleeping, or daytime tiredness, inattention, or hyperactivity, sleep studies can help diagnose the cause. Prior to the study, staff members compile an in-depth medical history for each patient, documenting medical conditions, a description of the sleeping environment, nighttime routines, and other environmental factors that could be affecting sleep. “Sleeping in a strange place can be frightening, so we’ve created a child-friendly environment,” says Dr. Mansoor. “Our staff helps children understand that the painless study involves lots of wires and ‘stickers,’ and that mom or dad will always be nearby.” Results help identify conditions such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and insomnia. Individualized treatment plans involve the child, parents, pediatricians, and other specialists, as necessary. For symptoms of insomnia, for example, habit or environment changes at home can improve quality of sleep. “By the time an adult is referred to a specialist for sleep problems, they may have developed years of bad habits or routines,” says Dr. Mansoor. “Helping a child build a good foundation begins with good health and good sleep.”

Brain and Spine in Good Hands “We treat anything that affects the brain and spine—tumors, trauma, infections, congenital disorders. Our goal is to help children return to their lives and the things they enjoy,” says Dr. J. Gentry Savage, a pediatric neurosurgeon. The nervous system is complex and intricately connected to many other systems, and multidisciplinary care is of the utmost importance. The neurosurgeons work in tandem with pediatric sedation anesthesiologists to design child-specific regimens to keep pain at bay. “Disorders even within the same spectrum can be very different. We take a very individualized approach, and we continually introduce new technology,” says Dr. Savage. A newly added neuronavigation system increases the surgeons’ ability to target problem areas, and the O-arm® Surgical Imaging System aids surgeons in safely placing spinal screws. Understanding that hospital visits can seem scary, a family-oriented atmosphere—including playrooms, special visitors, and friendly staff—puts both children and parents at ease. “Our job as physicians is to fight suffering,” says Dr. Savage. “We work to provide an improved quality of life for each patient.”

Dr. Ehab MansoorPediatric Sleep Medicine

Dr. J. Gentry SavagePediatric Neurosurgery