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# JLO (1984) Limited, 2009
doi:10.1017/S0022215109991861
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate current concerns about transnasal endoscopic repair of bilateral congenital choanal
atresia, regarding technical difficulties, prognostic factors and important controversies.
Patients and methods: Ten infants with bilateral congenital choanal atresia, aged from 3 to 27 days
(mean, 11.2 days) were included. All cases underwent transnasal endoscopic repair and were clinically
and endoscopically monitored.
Results: Of the seven patients treated with stenting, five remained patent and two required minor
debridement (with complete patency thereafter). Of the three patients treated without stenting, one
remained patent and two required minor debridement (with patency thereafter).
Conclusions: Transnasal endoscopic repair of bilateral congenital choanal atresia is a safe and successful
technique. The use of powered instrumentation in neonatal patients requires experience and a correctly
sized drill. Stenting with an appropriate nasal tube for a suitable period is favoured, especially in
hospitalised patients.
Key words: Choanal Atresia; Endoscopy; Child; Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures
From the ORL Department, Mansoura University Hospital, Mansoura University, Egypt.
Accepted for publication: 13 July 2009. First published online 25 November 2009.
387
388 H M ELADL
between March 2005 to February 2008. Prior to Oxymetazoline hydrochloride spray was applied to
commencement, the relevant institutional review the nasal cavity 15 minutes before transporting the
board approved the research, and appropriate patient to the operating theatre. On arrival, general
consent was obtained from the parents of all anaesthesia was induced.
patients. Using 4.0 mm 08 and 308 telescopes (Karl Storz,
Clinical evaluation included a complete physical Tuttlingen, Germany), both sides of the nasal
examination, to assess for other congenital cavity were inspected, and the atretic plate was care-
anomalies, and a complete nasal and nasopharyngeal fully identified. Otoscopic suction tubes were used
examination, to assess the deformity. All patients to remove discharge and to palpate the atretic plate.
underwent computed tomography (CT) scanning of Under endoscopic visualisation, a vertical cross-
the nose and paranasal sinuses to assess the location over incision was placed at the cartilaginous bony
and type of atresia. The atresias were either bony junction, a few millimetres superior to the maxillary
(in six patients), or composed of mixed bony and crest, over the posterior bony septum in the widest
membranous elements ( four patients) (Figure 1). part of the nasal cavity. The vomer was then
All patients were treated by the transnasal removed piecemeal using a dissector and paediatric
endoscopic surgical technique, using conventional endoscopic forceps with 2- and 4-mm blades
biting instruments. However, the transnasal endo- (straight, 458 and 908). The two nasal cavities could
scopic drill-out technique was added in four cases. be reached via this septal window, and this enabled
Table I shows the patients ages at the time of treat- bilateral endoscopic visualisation, together with the
ment, sex, weight, type of stenosis (bony, membra- facility to place the telescope on one side and the
nous or mixed), use of drilling and stenting, dissecting instrument on the other side in order to
follow-up results, and post-operative complications. facilitate bone removal. The posterior vomer and
the mucosa over the atretic plate were carefully
removed. Using the suction tube, the atretic plate
was punctured at its weakest point, to establish a
reference point into the nasopharynx. Using conven-
tional forceps, the atretic plates were then removed
bilaterally, working in a medial to lateral direction,
in order to open the choanae. Each choana was
then enlarged circumferentially, avoiding superior
manipulation, grasping, and blind, vigorous
manoeuvres (Figure 2). The inferior aspect of the
middle turbinate was used as a guide for the superior
limit of dissection.
In four cases, drilling of the atretic plates was
required in order to achieve sufficient choanal
opening. Drilling was employed only when required
by the thickness of the atretic plate, in order to
achieve complete resection. Drilling was commenced
inferiorly and medially and continued until the
choana opened; then conventional instrumentation
was used to widen the choana. Excess superior or
FIG. 1 blind drilling was avoided; drilling stayed posterior,
Axial computed tomography scan showing bilateral congenital inferior and medial in the nasal cavity, along the
choanal atresia. posterior maxillary crest.
TABLE I
PATIENT VARIABLES
Pt no Age Sex Wt Stenosis type Drilling? Stenting? Op time Post-op stay Follow up Post-op complications
(days) (kg) (wks) (min) (days) (mths)
1 4 F 2.9 Mixed N Y (3) 80 3 35
2 15 M 3.2 Bony Y Y (2) 85 7 31
3 7 F 3.0 Bony Y Y (4) 90 8 28 L vestibular stenosis
4 9 F 3.2 Bony N N 85 6 24 Bleeding
5 5 M 2.9 Mixed N N 65 6 18
6 3 M 2.5 Bony Y Y (4) 75 7 15
7 22 F 3.0 Mixed N Y (3) 60 8 12
8 13 M 3.2 Mixed N Y (1) 66 7 9
9 27 F 3.5 Bony Y Y (2) 75 8 8
10 7 F 3.0 Bony N N 60 4 5
Mean 11.2 3.04 N 2.7 74.1 6.4 18.5
Pt no patient number; wt weight; wks weeks; op time operation duration; post-op post-operative; mths months;
F female; M male; Y yes; N no; L left
TRANSNASAL ENDOSCOPIC REPAIR OF BILATERAL CONGENITAL CHOANAL ATRESIA 389
Results
The success rate of the primary procedure was 70 per
cent, as seven of the 10 patients had patent choanae
after one transnasal endoscopic procedure. The
endoscopic aspect of the choanae looked almost FIG. 3
normal in five of these cases, and was slightly nar- Customised soft nasal stent.
rowed with a small amount of granulation or
adhesions in two cases (Figure 4). All patients were
clinically and endoscopically monitored for nasal surgery. The mean post-operative hospital stay was
obstruction and healing. The follow-up period 6.4 days (Table I).
ranged from five to 35 months (mean, 18 months) Nasal stents ( fashioned from size 3.5 endotracheal
(Table I). tubes) were used in seven patients, and were removed
No major post-operative complications occurred; between one to four weeks after surgery. Second
however, one case showed post-operative unilateral look endoscopic evaluation was performed under
vestibular stenosis. In this case, drilling and stenting general anaesthesia two to four weeks post-
had been used. Excessive post-operative bleeding operatively (Table I). Of the seven patients with
occurred in one case, which was managed by stent stenting, five remained patent, while two required
removal and packing for two days. No other post- minor debridement of granulation tissue, with a
operative complications (e.g. distress, infection, patent result after the second procedure. Of the
bleeding or nasal deformity) were encountered. three patients without stenting, two remained
Normal feeding was possible on the day after patent, while one required minor debridement of
FIG. 2
(a) Endoscopic view of the septal window, showing two posterior choanae (arrows) and septum (star). (b) Endoscopic view of right
choana (arrow) after removal of atretic plate. (c) Endoscopic view of the septal window, showing two posterior choanae (arrows) and
posterior vomer bone (star).
390 H M ELADL
approach allows a shorter hospital stay and fewer resection of the atretic plate and formation of ade-
complications, compared with other, more tra- quate neochoanae bilaterally. Flap preservation and
ditional techniques.8,21,22 In the current series, early elevation were technically inapplicable in our
experience with transnasal endoscopic choanal patient age group.
atresia repair showed a primary success rate of 70 Stenting is preferred in the neonatal age group,
per cent; after second look endoscopic debridement, especially in cases with extensive mucosal lacerations
the success rate was 100 per cent, without any and/or drilling, and in hospitalised patients, to avoid
major complications. Post-operative failure of the restenosis and reoperation. In this study of seven
endoscopic approach may be a result of prolonged patients with stenting, five remained patent, while
mucosal trauma from stenting, rather than any two required minor debridement of granulation
deficiency inherent in the surgical technique.20 tissue, with a patent result thereafter. Of three
Factors which appear to favourably affect the patients without stenting, two remained patent,
outcome of bilateral congenital choanal atresia while one required minor debridement of granulation
surgery include the absence of associated facial tissue, with a patent result thereafter. However,
anomalies, weight at the time of surgery (i.e. prolonged stenting should be avoided, in order to
greater than 2.3 kg), stent size (i.e. greater than prevent adhesions, vestibular stenosis and infection.
3.5 mm) and duration of stenting.14 In the current An adequate post-operative follow-up period and
study, the most important operative and post- second look endoscopy are crucial to the success of
operative prognostic factors were: avoidance of this type of surgery. Despite the controversies and
excessive mucosal injury; early stent removal; avoid- debates regarding transnasal endoscopic repair of
ance of unnecessary drilling; second look endoscopic bilateral congenital choanal atresia, this technique
debridement; and close follow up. is still target-specific, easily applicable and widely
accepted.
endoscopic surgery of choanal atresia without the use of 24 Saetti R, Santoro R, Silvestrini M. Choanal atresia: endo-
stents. Laryngoscope 2002;112:750 2 scopic trans-nasal approach. International Congress Series
17 Holland BW, McGuirt WF Jr. Surgical management of 2003;1254:443 5
choanal atresia: improved outcome using mitomycin. 25 Westendorff C, Dammann F, Reinert S, Hoffmann J.
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2001;127:1375 80 Computer-aided surgical treatment of bilateral choanal
18 Khafagy YW. Endoscopic repair of bilateral congenital atresia. J Craniofac Surg 2007;18:654 60
choanal atresia. Laryngoscope 2002;112:316 19
19 McLeod IK, Brooks DB, Mair EA. Revision choanal
atresia repair. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2003;67:
517 24 Address for correspondence:
20 Schoem SR. Transnasal endoscopic repair of choanal Dr Hesham Mohammad Eladl,
atresia: why stent? Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2004; ORL Department,
131:362 6 Mansoura University Hospital,
21 Mumbuc S, Karatas E, Durucu C, Ozer E, Kanlkama M. Elteraa Rd, abo Hanifa St,
Transnasal endoscopic repair of choanal atresia [in Mansoura, Egypt.
Turkish]. Kulak Burun Bogaz Ihtis Derg 2007;17:85 9 Postal Code: 35516
22 Yaniv E, Hadar T, Shvero J, Stern Y, Raveh E. Endoscopic
transnasal repair of choanal atresia. Int J Pediatr Otorhino-
laryngol 2007;71:457 62 E-mail: heshameladl@mans.edu.eg
23 Kubba H, Bennett A, Bailey CM. An update on choa-
nal atresia surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital Dr H M Eladl takes responsibility for the integrity
for Children: preliminary results with mitomycin C and of the content of the paper.
the KTP laser. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2004;68: Competing interests: None declared
939 45
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