The International Pediatric Airway Foundation (INPAF) is a non-profit organization with a mission to provide funding to enable treatment of infants, children and adults (only in special situations) across the globe suffering from a compromised airway that would allow them to lead a normal life. The foundation is based in Switzerland and headed by Dr. Kishore SANDU who works at the Lausanne University Hospital ,CHUV.
A compromised airway is a complex condition that is either congenital (meaning a child is born with this anomaly) or acquired following accidents or long stays in intensive care units. Such patients have stenosis of the larynx (voice box) and trachea (windpipe) – are handicapped and breathe with artificial assistance (with a tracheostomy cannula that is placed in front of their neck). The treatment of such complex disorders is difficult and long – thus causing severe stress and financial burden on the family and the local hospital infrastructure.
Correct and successful treatment eventually improves the quality of life of the entire family. Psychological assistance is mandatory for the parents as it is extremely disheartening to see one’s child or a family member with constant breathing difficulty and living constantly in the fear of death.
