Electrocoagulation in the treatment of the choanal atresia in the newborn

CONGENITAL choanal atresia is a malformation developing during the early embryological stage. During this stage, the endoderms of the upper digestive tract unites with the ectoderms of the oral cavity to form a thin epithelial plate, the buccopharyngeal membrane. The dorsal plates of this membrane correspond to the definite choanae and disappear during the seventh week. If a mesodermal bridge remains in between endoderm and ectoderm, choanal atresia results. This may be unilateral or bi-lateral. Normally it consists of bony tissue, but sometimes it is merely a membrane.