title: Choanal atresia: an unusual serious complication of complementary and alternative medical treatment.
abstract: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is common among patients with chronic, long-standing nasal disease. Complications resulting from inappropriate CAM practices are sometimes reported, but serious complications such as choanal atresia and stenosis are rare. We report a case of choanal atresia and stenosis due to herbal drug (ie, chemical) cauterization of the nasal cavity in a 39-year-old man. We reviewed the literature on why patients previously given conventional treatment seek alternative therapies. The patient underwent surgical intervention to relieve choanal atresia and stenosis. The postoperative course was unremarkable, and follow-up for 1 year revealed no evidence of restenosis. Choanal atresia and stenosis resulting from CAM treatment are rare. Otolaryngologists should be aware of possible complications occurring in patients receiving such treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, and National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Tung-Lung
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Kee-Tak
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ching-Zong
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002425:Cautery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002754:Choanal Atresia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D004724:Endoscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed