Choanal Atresia: Birth Without Breath

Bilateral Choanal atresia is a medical emergency. Corrective surgery is the mainstay of the treatment. Hegar's dilator was used in all cases to break the bony/membranous atretic plate. The 22 cases of choanal atresia all operated by the first author were included in this study. Eight cases were 1-5 year old with bilateral choanal atresia and all required immediate surgery as they had repeated attacks of respiratory distress and cycle of cyanosis. Eight cases were of CHARGE Syndrome. All the cases were operated under general anaesthesia. Hegar's dilators were used and nasal stents were placed in all cases. Although complete nasal patency was achieved by surgery, in 8 cases, neonates could not survive due to the CHARGE Syndrome. The mortality was unrelated to the surgery. The 14 cases which were not related to CHARGE Syndroma had a good postoperative recovery. 3 cases were above 15 years old with unilateral complete bony/membranous choanal atresia and they presented with continuos nasal discharge. Hegar's dilators are a safe and simple method of surgery for choanal atresia. Nasal stenting is mandatory to prevent restenosis.