The surgical approach to bilateral choanal atresia. Analysis of 14 cases.

Bilateral choanal atresia presents as neonatal respiratory distress and suckling difficulty. Definitive repair of this anomaly by both transpalatine and transnasal approaches had been effective in young children. The transnasal procedures are preferred in infants because of the shorter operative time, low morbidity, and minimal potential for damage to developing structures. Fourteen children were treated for bilateral choanal insufficiency.