Choanal Atresia Repair in Pediatric Patients: Is the Use of Stents Recommended?

Abstract

Choanal atresia, the obliteration or narrowing of nasal choana, is widely studied across the pediatric and adult population. While unilateral choanal atresia can remain unidentified for several years, bilateral choanal atresia requires immediate intervention, as children are primarily nasal breathers until the initial four months of age. Several surgical methods are reported for repairing choanal atresia in children, and the choice of postoperative management with or without stents is still controversial. In this review, we analyzed several recent studies in which surgery for choanal atresia repair was followed by stent-assisted and/or stentless management. The results of this study are likely to pave the way for a further understanding of the choice of method to increase patency and reduce possible complications.