The usefulness of intranasal placement of an intubation tube for congenital nasal stenosis : A case report

Abstract

Congenital nasal stenosis, which causes breathing disorder in newborns and infants, may affect the growth and development. However, there is no standard for its diagnosis or treatment. We herein report a case of congenital nasal stenosis that showed a good course following the placement of an intubation tube in the nose. A female infant was delivered without trouble. Sudden dyspnea occurred on the second day after birth, and thereafter she was transferred to our pediatric department. She was introduced to our department on the ninth day of life to investigate the cause of her respiratory disorder. When we examined her by a nasal flexible endoscope, the posterior nasal cavity was found to not be closed, but significant bilateral nasal stenosis was noted. We therefore concluded that the nasal stenosis was the cause of the dyspnea. After inserting an intubation tube into the nasal cavity, the general condition and respiratory condition stabilized, and we were ultimately able to remove this tube later. The long-term placement of an intubation tube is a low-invasive approach for managing congenital nasal stenosis, as in this case. In addition, we should consider the possibility of congenital nasal stenosis when encountering cases of infant dyspnea.