Association of nasal nostril stenosis with bilateral choanal atresia: a case report

Neonatal nasal airway obstruction induces various degrees of respiratory distress. The management of this disease, including surgical repair, will depend on the severity and location of the obstruction. We describe here a case of congenital nasal nostril stenosis that required surgical repair for stenting of both nares after coanal atresia repair.

A 2 days old female newborn referred to neonatal department of Tabriz Children's Hospital affiliated to the University of Medical Sciences of Tabriz, Iran on the 3rd of December, 2011 immediately after birth with respiratory distress due to bilateral coanal atresia and nasal hypoplasia with very small nostrils. CT scan showed normal brain and bilateral choanal atresia with normal size Pyriform apertures.

Nasal obstruction can lead to airway compromise and respiratory distress. Congenital bony nasal deformities are being recognized as an important cause of newborn airway obstruction. Nasal hypoplasia is seen in many craniofacial syndromes. Although our patient had hypoplastic nostrils with respiratory distress due to bilateral coanal atresia, correction of hypoplastic nostrils was necessary for completing the operation of choanal atresia.