Treatment of a recurrent choanal atresia by balloon dilatation.
A 16-year-old female patient with recurrent stenosis after unilateral choanal atresia that had been treated by surgery and laser therapy presented with restenosis 3 weeks after laser resection. As an alternative to repeat surgery, she was treated by balloon dilatation. Four balloon dilatations were performed (three at 4-week intervals and the last after an 8-week interval) over a 4-month period on an outpatient basis. She tolerated the treatment well without any complications. Over a follow-up period of 2 years the choana has remained completely open. The balloon dilatation described in this context here for the first time may be a good alternative to repeated operations in the treatment of recurrent choanal atresia, with minimal stress to the patient.
Klinik für bildgebende Verfahren, Interventionelle Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin, Diakonissenkrankenhaus Karlsruhe, Germany. radiologie@diak-ka.de
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D
Goettmann
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M
Strohm
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Strecker
D000293:Adolescent; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D002754:Choanal Atresia / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence