LXXV Surgical Correction of Choanal Atresia

Congenital choanal atresia while uncommon is not rare. The interest in this problem has recently increased, and the diagnosis is being made more frequently in infancy and childhood. As a result of this increased interest, pediatric services are now including the passage of soft rubber catheters through the nares of each newborn as part of the physical examination. It is then understandable that we are confronted today with an increasing number of infants suffering from the severe effects of airway occlusion and feeding problems. Compounding this problem one sees an increase in associated anomalies. This study showed anomalies associated with choanal atresia in 50 per cent of the cases. The increased incidence of such children coming to surgery is not only the result of early and better examination, but is, to a large extent, the result of the improvement in the care of the newborn by pediatricians. Many of the children suffering multiple anomalies are surviving and grow up to adulthood