Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) Clinic
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) occurs when the lung tissue does not develop normally. The lung tissue in a child with BPD is inflamed and scarred. It develops most often in premature babies, who are born with underdeveloped lungs. BPD is one of the most common chronic lung diseases in children.
All children grow new airways and air sacs until 8 years of age. BPD often gets better over the first 2 or 3 years of a child’s life. Healthy tissue replaces scar tissue as the child grows. Lung disease makes breathing hard.
Children with BPD breathe harder than normal. Colds can make children with BPD very sick. Treatment is geared to support the breathing and oxygen needs of infants with BPD and to enable them to grow and thrive.
BPD clinic is a specialized clinic within the pulmonary division that meets on Monday afternoons in Clinic 6. Clinic 6 is on the first floor of Children’s Hospital located at 1600 7th Avenue South.
Parking is provided in the 7th Avenue parking deck located across the street from the hospital. Please bring your parking ticket to clinic for validation.
1600 7th Avenue South
Lowder Building, Suite 620
Birmingham, AL 35233
Phone: 205-638-9583
Fax: 205-638-2850
Appointments: 205-638-2985
After Hours (Emergency only): 205-638-9100
Download the BPD brochure.
Download the the BPD booklet.
How do I prepare for BPD Clinic?
Plan your transportation in advance. If transportation is a problem, please notify us as soon as possible. We may be able to help.
- Make sure child has plenty of oxygen available for travel to and from their appointment.
- Bring any medications or feedings your child may need while away from home.
- Bring your child’s insurance/Medicaid card.
- If your child’s last name has changed, please bring the birth certificate showing this change.
- Bring a list of your child’s medications with strength and dosage.
What happens at a BPD Clinic visit?
On the first visit your child will receive lab and x-ray (possibly at future visits also).
Your child will then be evaluated by a multi-disciplinary team of health professionals. This team includes a physician, nurse practitioner, nurse, social worker, nutritionist and respiratory therapist. The goal of this team is to meet the many specialized needs of your child in one setting.
These visits are often lengthy, lasting approximately 2 hours due to the complex needs of our patient population.
