Unilateral choanal atresia

Choanal atresia was first described by Otto in 1830 (Otto A., 1830). This condition is a rare one. Polson et al. (1943) found that in the period 1829-1945, only five hundred cases had been reported. A report on a case of unilateral choanal atresia is presented. The etiology, diagnosis and treatment of the condition are also discussed. The patient, a sixteen year old girl, presented at St. Luke's Hospital Malta with foul smelling discharge from the right side of the nose. As regards etiology, most of the cases are congenital, only very few being caused by syphilis, diphtheria, trauma or tuberculosis. All bilateral choanal atresia cases need emergency operation and removal of the obstruction and insertion of Aechersen's cannulae, to restore patency of the nasal airway, while unilateral cases need no urgent treatment.peer-reviewe