Bilateral Congenital Choanal Atresia in a Neonate-A Case Report

: Congenital choanal atresia is the developmental failure of the communication between the posterior nasal cavity and the nasopharynx. Choanal atresia is an uncommon congenital anomaly of the nose with an incidence of approximately one in 7000 live births (1, 2). Choanal atresia is caused by failure of resorption of the bucco-nasal membrane during embryonic development (3). Choanal atresia has a significant incidence of associated defects (4). The most common associated congenital anomaly is CHARGE syndrome (5). Bilateral choanal atresia presents with severe respiratory distress and cyanosis at birth and is alleviated by crying whereas unilateral atresia often remains undetected until late in life (6). Bilateral choanal atresia is managed with an oropharyngeal airway (7). Surgical repair is recommended in the first weeks of life in bilateral atresia because this is a life-threatening situation in newborns with two main approaches, namely transnasal or transpalatal (8, 9). Here we discuss a case report of successful management of a neonate with bilateral choanal atresia who presented with intermittent attacks of cyanosis and respiratory distress soon after birth.