Empirical overview of a delayed diagnosis of bilateral congenital choanal atresia in an adolescent male: management with 'coblation-assisted surgery'

Abstract

Bilateral choanal atresia (CA) is a congenital anomaly consisting of an imperforated choana that leads to newborn fatalities but, if unilateral, may go unnoticed for many years. Bilateral CA occurring without significant symptoms and remaining undiagnosed for many years is rare. This case report identifies an adolescent male with bilateral CA who remained undiagnosed till adolescence. The patient presented with isolated complaints of chronic nasal obstruction and discharge and was diagnosed with bilateral CA by endoscopic and radiological evaluation. The patient underwent a coblation-assisted endoscopic CA repair, with a crossover mucoperiosteal flap technique, without stenting and with a successful outcome.

Keywords: Ear, nose and throat; Ear, nose and throat/otolaryngology; Otolaryngology / ENT; Paediatrics.