Transnasal endoscopic choanal plasty for repairing congenital choanal atresia

Abstract

To observe the effect of transnasal endoscopic choanal plasty for repairing congenital choanal atresia. A retrospective analysis of 15 patients with choanal atresia in Beijing Children's Hospital from January 2006 to September 2012 was made. All the 15 patients accepted electronic nasopharyngoscope examination and CT scanning of the paranasl sinus. The age was between 4 years old and 6 years old. Seven of them were male and 8 were female. Six cases were unilateral atresia, 9 were bilateral atresia. Ten cases (16 sides) were membranous atresia, 2 cases (4 sides) were mixed type atresia and 3 cases (4 sides) were bony atresia. All the patients accepted transnasal endoscopic choanal plasty. A tube was placed in order to support the enlarged nostrils. The nasal tube should be retained for 3 months and kept patency by routine care. Three months after operation, the tube could be removed. The patients were told to do physiological saline nasal irrigation and receive regular review by transnasal endoscopy. The patients were followed up for 1 year postoperatively by electronic nasopharyngoscope examination. There was no failure case in all the 15 patients. The total effective rate was 100%. Transnasal endoscopic choanal plasty had better efficacy and safety in the treatment of congenital choanal atresia.