Choanal Atresia Treatment in Turkey

Ayaan Ali is a 3-week-old newborn,...

Ayaan Ali is a 3-week-old newborn, the first child of young parents who emigrated from Pakistan. Since birth, his parents noticed he struggled to breathe whenever he tried to feed. He would turn blue (cyanotic) and become distressed, only calming down when he cried, which forced him to breathe through his mouth. At a routine check-up, their pediatrician became alarmed by Ayaan's cyclical breathing difficulties and immediate referral to a pediatric ENT specialist was made. The ENT doctor diagnosed unilateral choanal atresia, a bony blockage in one side of the nasal passage connecting to the throat. She explained that for a newborn who are obligate nose breathers, this was a critical airway obstruction. She recommended an urgent endoscopic choanal atresia repair to create a patent airway. The procedure was performed under general anesthesia using tiny scopes and delicate drills. The surgery went smoothly, and temporary stents were placed to keep the new channel open. Post-procedure, Ayaan recovered in the NICU for monitoring. After a week, the stents were removed. The immediate change was profound, he could breathe quietly through his nose and feed successfully without turning blue. His parents' emotional journey shifted from constant, terrifying vigilance and fear of losing their son during feeds to overwhelming relief and joy. They could finally hold him without panic, bonding without the shadow of a medical emergency.