[Choanal atresia--experience with early surgery].
BACKGROUND
Prior to 1982, patients in our department with choanalatresia were operated by the transpalatinal approach. To eliminate the risk of insufficient transpalatine growth, only older children were operated.


METHODS
From 1982 we have chosen to operate as soon as symptoms occurred, usually at an earlier age. Therefore, we chose the transnasal approach in 32 patients.


RESULTS
Of 14 patients with bilateral choanalatresia, nine were operated before two months of age. In nine patients we took care to remove some of the posterior part of vomer. Four of them have been symptom free for more than a year, an additional two symptom free but with an observation period of less than a year, and three have renewed symptoms. Of 18 patients with unilateral atresia, 11 were operated before seven years of age, seven of them successfully. Of the seven operated after the age of seven, six are symptom free.


CONCLUSIONS
We believe that these results justify continuing with transnasal operations as soon as symptoms are distressing, regardless of age.
Haye
R
R
Ore-nese-halsavdelingen Rikshospitalet, Oslo.
Aanesen
J P
JP
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002754:Choanal Atresia / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome