Choanal atresia is a narrowing or blockage of the nasal airway by tissue. It is a congenital condition, meaning it is present at birth.
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsThe cause of choanal atresia is unknown. It is thought to occur when the thin tissue separating the nose and mouth area during fetal development remains after birth.
The condition is the most common nasal abnormality in newborn infants, affecting about 1 in 7,000 live births. Females get this condition about twice as often as males. More than half of affected infants also have other congenital problems.
Choanal atresia is generally diagnosed shortly after birth while the infant is still in the hospital.
SymptomsNewborns generally prefer to breathe through their nose. Typically, infants only mouth breathe when they cry. Babies with choanal atresia have difficulty breathing unless they are crying.
Choanal atresia may affect one or both sides of the nasal airway. Choanal atresia blocking both sides (bilateral) of the nose causes acute breathing problems with cyanosis and breathing failure. Infants with bilateral choanal atresia may need resuscitation at delivery. More than half of infants have a blockage on only one side, which causes less severe problems.
Symptoms include:
A physical examination may show an obstruction of the nose.
Tests that may be done include:
The immediate concern is to resuscitate the baby if necessary. An airway may need to be placed so that the infant can breathe. In some cases, intubation or tracheostomy may be needed.
An infant can learn to mouth breathe, which can delay the need for immediate surgery.
Surgery to remove the obstruction cures the problem. Surgery may be delayed if the infant can tolerate mouth breathing. The surgery may be done through the nose (transnasal) or through the mouth (transpalatal).
Expectations (prognosis)Full recovery is expected.
ComplicationsPossible complications include:
Choanal atresia, especially when it affects both sides, is generally diagnosed shortly after birth while the infant is still in the hospital. One-sided atresia may not cause symptoms, and the infant may be sent home without a diagnosis.
If your infant has any of the problems listed here, consult your health care provider. The child may need to be checked by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist.
PreventionThere is no known prevention.
ReferencesHaddad J Jr. Congenital disorders of the nose. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 373.
there's nothing to do about it
* Anal atresia -- congenital absence of a hole at the bottom end of the intestine. Also called imperforate anus. * Aortic atresia -- congenital absence of the normal valvular opening into the aorta. * Biliary atresia -- absence of the major bile ducts. * Choanal atresia -- congenital failure of one or both nasal passages to open. * Esophageal atresia -- a birth defect in which part of esophagus is not hollow. * Intestinal atresia -- obliteration of the hollow of the small intestine, involving the ileum (50% of cases) or the jejunum or duodenum. * Laryngeal atresia -- congenital failure of the laryngeal opening to develop, resulting in partial or total obstruction at or just above or below the glottis. * Pulmonary atresia -- congenital absence of the pulmonary valve opening in the heart. * Tricuspid atresia -- congenital lack of the tricuspid valve opening. * Vaginal atresia -- congenital occlusion of the vagina or subsequence adhesion (sticking together) of the walls of the vagina occluding it.
Atresia is a term related to cavities. Atresia is the condition in which a tube is blocked, or absent.
Atresic or imperforate both mean without an opening.atresia which literally means "without a hold condition". The medical word part -atreto- is used in medical terms like atretoblepharia, atretocystia, atretogastria, etc.A mnemonic story to remember this word part: Your father has brought you a treat (atreto-), "Lifesavers(TM) or doughnuts without a hole".
Esophageal atresia occurs in approximately 1 in 4,000 live births.
The cause of esophageal atresia, like that of most birth defects, is unknown.
No, there is a 30-40% chance of Down Syndrome when duodenal atresia is diagnosed.
An ovarian follicle atresia is a process in which immature ovarian follicles physically decline. Roughly 20 ovarian follicles mature every month but only one of them is ovulated and the rest go through the process of atresia. As such, there is no specific sign of ovarian follicle atresia as it is a natural process in the female reproductive cycle.
Pulmonary atresia is a condition where the pulmonic heart valve fails to form, so the heart can't pump blood into the lungs.
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Birth Day - 2000 Pulmonary Atresia was released on: USA: 2 January 2004