II. Definition

  1. Complete obstruction of one or both nares

III. Pathophysiology

  1. Infants are obligate nose breathers until 4 months old

IV. Signs

  1. Bilateral Choanal Atresia
    1. Cyanosis that is relieved with crying
  2. Unilateral Choanal Atresia
    1. Diagnosis usually delayed by years
    2. Foul mucus discharge from affected naris
    3. Upper Respiratory Infection may result in distress

V. Diagnosis

  1. Check patency with stethoscope (listen over nares)
  2. Small Feeding Tube unable to pass via naris
    1. Lubricate 5 french tube
    2. Normally should meet no resistance

VI. Management: Bilateral Choanal Atresia

  1. Bilateral Choanal Atresia in newborn is an emergency
  2. Stabilization
    1. Oral Airway
  3. Surgical repair
    1. Laser burrowing of bony Palate

VII. References

  1. Cloherty (1991) Neonatal Care, Little Brown, p. 501
  2. Fuloria (2002) Am Fam Physician 65(1):61-8 [PubMed]

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Related Studies

Ontology: Choanal Atresia (C0008297)

Definition (MSH) A congenital abnormality that is characterized by a blocked CHOANAE, the opening between the nose and the NASOPHARYNX. Blockage can be unilateral or bilateral; bony or membranous.
Concepts Congenital Abnormality (T019)
MSH D002754
ICD9 748.0
ICD10 Q30.0
SnomedCT 156934002, 53458004, 204514002, 204509001, 14988006, 204508009
English Atresia, Choanal, Atresias, Choanal, Choanal Atresia, Choanal Atresias, Choanal atresia, unspecified, Choanal atresia NOS, choanal atresia (diagnosis), choanal atresia, Choanal Atresia [Disease/Finding], atresia choanal, Imperforate nares, Choanal atresia NOS (disorder), Choanal atresia, unspecified (disorder), Choanal atresia, Choanal atresia (disorder), atresia; choana, atresia; nares, choana; atresia, choanal; fusion, fusion; choanal, nares; atresia, Choanal atresia (disorder) [Ambiguous], Atresia of nares
Portuguese Atresia das Cóanas, Atresia Coanal, Atresia de Cóano, Atresia de Cóanos, Atresia das Coanas, Atresia de Coanas, Atresia dos coanos
Spanish Atresia de las Coanas, Atresia Coanal, atresia de coanas, SAI, atresia de coanas, no especificada, atresia de coanas, SAI (trastorno), atresia coanal (trastorno), atresia de coanas, no especificada (trastorno), narinas imperforadas, atresia coanal (concepto no activo), atresia coanal, atresia de coanas (trastorno), atresia de coanas, Atresia coanal
Swedish Koanalatresi
Japanese コウビコウヘイサ, 後鼻孔閉鎖症, 後鼻孔閉鎖, 無開口後鼻孔, 閉鎖後鼻孔, 閉鎖症-後鼻孔
Czech choana - atrézie, Atrézie choan
Finnish Koana-atresia
Russian KHOAN ATREZIIA, ХОАН АТРЕЗИЯ
Korean 후비공 폐쇄
Polish Atrezja nozdrzy tylnych, Niewykształcenie nozdrzy tylnych, Zarośnięcie nozdrzy tylnych
Hungarian Choana atresia
Norwegian Koanalatresi, Medfødt lukking av choanae
Dutch atresie; choana, atresie; nares, choana; atresie, choanaal; vergroeiing, nares; atresie, vergroeiing; choanaal, Choanale atresie, choanale atresie, Atresie, choana-, Choana-atresie
German Choanalatresie, Atresie, Choanal-
Italian Atresia delle coane
French Atrésie choanale, Atrésie des choanes