Life-saving nasal endoscopic surgery performed

33-week born pre-term and premature baby successfully treated

Care Hospitals in Banjara Hills has recently performed a successful procedure for a life threatening nasal condition on a baby. The female baby, Shareef Fatima was born with very low birth weight (1.10 kg) in the 33rd week of gestation. After experiencing respiratory distress she was diagnosed with Bilateral Congenital Bony Choanal Atresia, which is inconsistent with life unless an oral airway is kept in mouth immediately after birth or intubated. The diagnosis was confirmed by CT scan of paranasal sinuses.

Bilateral Choanal Atresia is a rare congenital condition, which causes complete obstruction of the posterior nasal openings on one or both sides. It will present as an acute respiratory emergency at birth as newborns are obligate nasal breathers. This is the first time the condition was treated using Endoscopic Surgical repair using 1 mm Skeeter Drill by the ENT Department of the hospital. Special equipment like small diameter endoscopes was used to reconstruct the nasal passages and to relieve nasal obstruction.

The baby was taken for emergency endoscopic surgery and stenting under general anaesthesia. She was weaned off from ventilator on the second post operative day and nasal breathing established with stent in place. The success of this procedure comes as a hope for babies suffering with life threatening nasal conditions.