Can a second look improve the outcome of endoscopic choanal atresia repair?

PURPOSE

To evaluate the outcome of a routine postoperative endoscopic micro-debridement of granulation tissue after stentless transnasal endoscopic repair of choanal atresia (CA).

METHODS

This prospective case series included congenital CA patients who underwent stentless transnasal endoscopic repair, followed by an endoscopic second look and micro-debridement of granulation tissue at 1-2 weeks post-repair. Patients were followed every three months for assessment of nasal airway symptoms and objective evaluation by flexible nasolaryngoscopy.

RESULTS

Sixteen CA patients (8 bilateral and 8 unilateral) underwent surgical repair (12 primary and 4 revisions). The median  age was 13 days (range 1 day-6 months) in bilateral and 3 years  (range 7 months-15 years) in unilateral atresia. The mean follow-up was 1.5 years (range 1 year-3 years). In primary procedures, the obstruction was bony-membranous in 7 cases and bony in 5 cases. The mean interval time between the CA repair and re-examination was 10.75 days (range 6-18 days). Clinically significant neochoanal restenosis was not encountered.

CONCLUSIONS

Re-examination under general anesthesia with endoscopic micro-debridement of granulation tissue is a safe, potentially effective adjunct when done during the proliferative phase of neochoanal wound healing. This procedure might help in maintaining neochoanal patency by remodeling tissue healing process. Large-scale, long-term cohort studies are imperative.