Endoscopic endonasal repair of bilateral choanal atresia in a 1200 g preterm infant: Is it feasible? (With video).

INTRODUCTION

Bilateral choanal atresia (CA) is a rare congenital anomaly, that causes neonatal respiratory distress. No consensus exists regarding the most appropriate surgical approach in low-birth weight preterm infants.

CASE REPORT: We present (with video) the case of a male born at 29 weeks' gestation, 1200 g, affected by bilateral CA. He was successfully treated with an endoscopic transnasal approach performed on day 4 of life which allowed a very early extubation. Otologic instruments and 2.7 mm wide endoscope were used to be able to operate in very narrow nasal cavities. Thulium LASER® was used to limit bleeding. At the follow-up visit, four months after surgery, the neochoana was widely patent.

DISCUSSION: In low-birth weight preterm infants, endoscopic transnasal surgery (ETS) may be considered technically not feasible or with a high risk of early restenosis. With early ETS, we were able to avoid the morbidity of a prolonged intubation and sedation.

CONCLUSION

Bilateral CA is a life threatening and challenging clinical entity, particularly difficult to treat in low-birth preterm infants. Early surgery to reduce intubation and sedation is preferable, but requires experienced teams with a surgical technique and instruments tailored to the narrowness of the nasal cavity.