Abstract
Choanal atresia is a developmental anomaly where there is failure of communication
of the nasal cavity to the nasopharynx. The atresia can be membranous or bony in nature,
but may be mixed as is seen in most of the cases. Bilateral choanal atresia is an
emergency condition and newborns can have severe respiratory distress and cyanosis
at birth. Failure to pass an 8 F catherter through the nasal cavity more than 5.5
cm from the alar rim points to the presence of choanal atresia. In emergency, bilateral
choanal atresia is managed with an oropharyngeal airway. Flexible nasal endoscopy
and CT scan can confirm the diagnosis of choanal atresia. Surgery is the definitive
treatment which can be done either by transnasal or transpalatal approach. The transnasal
endoscopic route is currently the preferred procedure and can be performed as a minimally
invasive procedure. This has less complications and a high success rate. We studied
four cases of unilateral choanal atresia presented to our hospital, with respect to
the etiological factors, clinical features and management.
Keywords
Choanal atresia - Unilateral - Endoscopic recanalization
