Congenital nasal airway stenosis without cranio-facial malformation

Abstract

  Congenital nasal airway stenosis without craniofacial malformation is one of the causes of airway obstruction in infants. From March 2002 through December 2009, there were five such cases at the National Center for Child Health and Development. Respiratory distress developed with nasal obstruction at birth in three cases, or was later associated with airway infection in four cases, feeding difficulty in three cases, and difficulty in inserting a nasogastric or suction catheter through nasal cavity in four cases. The diagnosis was confirmed by nasal endoscopy and sinus CT scan. Sinus CT scan revealed pyriform aperture stenosis in four cases and a peculiar nasal cavity stricture in one case. Three of the four cases with pyriform aperture stenosis required nasal stenting therapy due to severe respiratory distress. while the other cases with mild respiratory distress required conservative treatments such as alpha-stimulant nasal drop therapy.