Choanal imperforation, a retrospective study

The obliteration of the posterior nasal aperture is due to an obstructing membrane or bony wall in 1/8000 births, or by progressive stenosis of the posterior part of the nasal cavity. This obstruction can be complete or partial, is usually unilateral and in the most cases occurs in females.We realised a retrospective study on a period of 10 years (1996-2005) in a group of 23 patients:children and adults.Ages between 3 and 26 years. The number of children were 19 (the average age in children was 48 months).We treat only 23 patients with unilateral atresia.The confirmation of this congenital disorder with unknown etiology may be obtained by: characteristic clinical picture, endoscopic nasal aspect and computed tomography scan.The objective of this study is to follow up the post-operative results of transnasal endoscopic repair in patients with choanal atresia to whom we used a stent for two months after the surgical procedure.The endoscopic endonasal surgery in the surgical treatment of choanal atresia is a safe and highly succesfull procedure.Using the endoscopic surgery, just as the postoperatory follow-up by routine revision endoscopy, prevents the complications due to the maintaining of the endonasal stents for 2 months, sliding of the tubes from the new created orifices and the restenosis or complete choanal closure