International Pediatric Otolaryngology Group (IPOG) consensus recommendations: Diagnosis, pre-operative, operative and post-operative pediatric choanal atresia care.

OBJECTIVE

To provide recommendations to otolaryngologists and allied physicians for the comprehensive management of young infants who present with signs or symptoms of choanal atresia.

METHODS

A two-iterative delphi method questionnaire was used to establish expert recommendations by the members of the International Otolaryngology Group (IPOG), on the diagnostic, intra-operative, post-operative and revision surgery considerations.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight members completed the survey, in 22 tertiary-care center departments representing 8 countries. The main consensual recommendations were: nasal endoscopy or fiberscopy and CT imaging are recommended for diagnosis; unilateral choanal atresia repair should be delayed after at least age 6 months whenever possible; transnasal endoscopic repair is the preferred technique; long term follow-up is recommended (minimum one year) using nasal nasofiberscopy or rigid endoscopy, without systematic imaging.

CONCLUSION

Choanal atresia care consensus recommendations are aimed at improving patient-centered care in neonates, infants and children with choanal atresia.