Yep, our Branchial Cleft surgeon Dr. Green is pretty brilliant...

Scott Hollister, left, and Dr. Glenn Green of the University of Michigan
used plastic particles and a 3-D laser printer to create the first-ever airway splint
to save the life of a baby boy who used to stop breathing nearly every day. / AP

When he's not working on rare branchial cleft abnormalities, our surgeon Dr. Glenn Green of the University of Michigan is making pediatric ENT history!  Check out this MSNBC story on him and his team creating the first-ever 3-D laser printed implantable device, in order to save the life of a little guy with a constantly collapsing trachea.  Moral of the story?  Always find a world-class surgeon to open your baby's neck.  

If you loved your branchial cleft surgeon and think he or she is world-class, tell us!  Let's share our best branchial cleft surgeon recommendations from around the country in the comments to this post and make sure every parent can find a great surgeon in their region to consult with on this rare congenital disorder!

Parental Googling--AKA, a doctor's worst nightmare

Yes, I've become "that mom"...a week has passed since we heard Kate would need open-neck surgery on her branchial cleft fistula.  Now that I have had some time to think about it, I'm flabbergasted the best treatment for this is a one-inch incision to remove a 2 cm tract.  Really?  I had to do some investigating.  I found two interesting studies, both by Texas doctors who had done a cauterization on the tract.  I'm not 100% sure either of these findings exactly parallel what Kate has, since the terminology starts to swim around on me a bit, but it seems at least worth investigating further:

 
Endoscopic cauterization of fourth branchial cleft sinus tracts.

AND:

Periform Sinus Tracts in Children

So, I did what any slightly obsessive, over-protective mother would do--I contacted both these doctors and asked them more.  Dr. Green and U-M both have my fullest confidence, and if we need to do the full surgery, they're getting our business.  I just need to know I have exhausted every non-invasive, progressive option that exists and made sure it is not a fit for Kate's particular case.  Who knows, perhaps our family will pioneer the technique of cauterizing, not surgically excising, these branchial cleft abnormalities at University of Michigan hospital!!??!