Neonatal Outcome of Choanal Atresia Surgical Corrections- Experience from a Tertiary Care Centre from Eastern India

Abstract

Choanal atresia is a congenital condition that occurs due to developmental failure of nasal cavity to communicate with the nasopharynx. There can be both unilateral and bilateral occlusion, bony, soft tissue and both. It can present at birth or early in the neonatal period or even later in life. This case series included three patients, who were admitted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and they underwent surgical correction in the hospital. All these cases had different presentations and clinical course. First case was admitted for respiratory failure and sepsis and, later was diagnosed as bilateral choanal atresia. Second case was admitted at 17 days of life with diagnosis of Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy (HIE) and multiple extubation failure and later was diagnosed as unilateral choanal atresia. Third case had respiratory distress soon after birth and was referred with a diagnosis of suspected choanal atresia. It was confirmed as bilateral choanal atresia and the child improved after surgical correction. All three cases were out born and referred in the hospital at different postnatal ages with varied symptoms. The lessons learnt in management of first case helped in subsequent cases resulting in better outcome.

Keywords

• choanal atresioplasty
• cyanosis
• neonates
• respiratory distress