The Pediatric ENT Clinic was established as a department of the Pediatric Medical Faculty of Charles University. It began developing in the "nursing home" at Karlov in 1946 and focused on pediatric ENT issues. The first head of the clinic was Prof. MUDr. B. Wiškovský, who was succeeded by Doc. MUDr. Jan Chvojka in 1953. From 1960 to 1979, the clinic was led by Doc. MUDr. Jan Klos, DrSc. From the beginning, the clinic closely collaborated with the ENT department of the Central Military Hospital in teaching medical students, where internships with adult patients were conducted. In 1978, the clinic moved to new facilities at the Faculty Hospital in Motok. In 1981, Prof. MUDr. Jaroslav Fajstavr, DrSc., took over the leadership of the clinic. At the same time, the Pediatric ENT Clinic merged with the adult ENT department in Motok. Despite the merger, the autonomy of both departments was maintained, allowing for close cooperation in clinical, educational, and research activities. In 1998, following the opening of a new adult monoblock and healthcare reorganizations in Prague, the pediatric division became independent again. Prof. Fajstavr made a significant impact on the clinic’s development. As an excellent surgeon, he expanded his techniques, particularly in pediatric ENT, based on the Hradec Králové school of Prof. Hybásek. The close collaboration with the Pediatric Oncology Clinic formed a team capable of diagnosing and surgically treating pediatric ENT cancers at a European level.
After Prof. Fajstavr’s retirement, the clinic was led by Doc. MUDr. Zdeněk Kabelka, Ph.D., who significantly advanced the treatment of congenital defects in ENT and surgical treatment of hearing loss. He became the first head of the Cochlear Implantation Center for Children. The cochlear implantation program began in 1993, and by 2013, the total number of implanted children reached 530. Along with the development of surgical possibilities, diagnostic options at the clinic have also improved. Hearing tests now allow examination of newborns and accurate determination of hearing thresholds in very young children using a unique device, SSEP, which was the only one of its kind in Central Europe in 2000.
With the development of endoscopic techniques, another important area of focus for the clinic became endoscopic examinations of the larynx, tracheobronchial tree, and esophagus, including surgical solutions. One of the leading experts in pediatric endoscopy was long-time deputy head of the clinic, chief physician MUDr. Jiří Kanta, who was succeeded by chief physicians MUDr. Pavel Březovský and later MUDr. Milena Marková. They not only continued the tradition of excellent diagnostic and treatment procedures but also advanced the clinic’s possibilities with the acquisition of the latest equipment. Since 2008, the head of the department has been MUDr. Michal Jurovčík, who further improved endoscopic techniques, particularly with the development of laser techniques, the Shaver, the Harmonic Scalpel, and the introduction of biodegradable stents for stenotic sections of the lower respiratory tract.
Surgical treatment of paranasal sinus diseases and therapeutic strategies have been significantly transformed with the adoption of functional endonasal surgery and new treatment preparations. This issue is addressed in cooperation with imaging departments, allergy, immunology, and microbiology.
The increasing number of thyroid diseases in children led to the establishment of a new specialized center focusing on endocrine surgery in collaboration with the Department of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrinology at the FNM, also including postoperative adjuvant therapy. We highly value individual care. Our results are comparable to those of world-class centers.
After the death of Doc. MUDr. Kabelka, the leadership of the clinic was taken over by As. MUDr. Jiří Skřivan, CSc. One of the most respected ear surgeons, he continued the established cochlear implantation program, expanding the range of indications, and since 2015, bilateral cochlear implants have been routinely implanted in patients with congenital deafness. By 2016, the center had approached 700 patients operated on.
With the expansion of imaging techniques and optical fibers, we were also able to develop the latest diagnostic methods for objectively evaluating swallowing disorders (FEES), even in the youngest patients, in collaboration with the speech therapy clinic.
In 2022, the head of the clinic became Prof. MUDr. Zdeněk Čada, PhD.
