Prabhavathi Gummalla, MD

What are some of the specific conditions you treat?

Some of the conditions we treat are obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and periodic limb movement disorders, circadian rhythm disorders, narcolepsy, cataplexy, parasomnias - night terrors, night mares, sleep walking, sleep talking and confusional arousals, REM behavioral disorders, insomnia, central sleep apnea, behavioral insomnia of childhood, sleep eating disorder, bedwetting as a consequence of sleep apnea and obstructive hypoventilation syndrome. Screening for OSA in genetic conditions such as Down's syndrome, craniosynostosis, Prader- Wili syndrome , Treacher Collins syndrome, Pierre robin sequence, Mucopolysaccharidoses etc. Childhood asthma, Exercise induced bronchospasm, Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, pneumonia, aspiration bronchiectasis, restrictive lung disease from various causes - neuromuscular diseases, scoliosis, Cystic Fibrosis, congenital lung and airway abnormalities etc.,

What techniques or procedures do you use in your practice?

Sleep study in children including infants, CPAP titration, BIPAP titration, multiple sleep latency test, actigraphy, home sleep study and continuous pulse oximetry in sleep. Flexible bronchoscopy with or without Broncho alveolar lavage to assess the airway where indicated. Spirometry and body plethysmography. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Airway clearance techniques.

What techniques or procedures do you use in your practice?

I believe in a holistic approach with multidisciplinary approach in managing sleep disorders and lung conditions in children. By appropriate screening and timely management of sleep disorders in children using a multidisciplinary approach would improve the quality of sleep in children. Untreated sleep apnea in children has long term effects such as hypertension, obesity, increased risk of diabetes and poor grades in school. Treatment of sleep apnea results in improvement in their academic performance, behavioral problems, inattention, hyperactivity, cognition, bed wetting, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, obsessive compulsive behaviors, substance abuse, eating disorders. In terms of childhood asthma, I believe in a preventive approach by identifying and managing triggers of asthma.