Objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using
stents after endoscopic repair of bilateral
posterior choanal atresia. Twenty cases of congenital bilateral
posterior choanal atresia were managed by endoscopic transnasal approach which was performed using a nasal
stent in 10 cases and without stenting in the other 10 cases. The
stent was left for 4 weeks and patients had 1-5 years of follow-up. Patients have been evaluated subjectively and objectively: clinical and by endoscopic examination. Closure occurs in 20% of the
stent group compared to 30% of the non-
stent group, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups. On the other hand, choanal narrowing and
stenosis occurs in 40% of the
stent group compared to 20% of the non-
stent group with a statistically significant difference between the two groups. Granulation tissue formation was detected in 50%, erosion of the nares in 10%, premature extrusion in 10%, and dislodgement in 10% of
stent group. Granulation tissue formation was detected in 20%,
hemorrhage occurred in 10% of the non-
stent group patients. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P-value < 0.05) regarding granulation tissue formation. The use of
stents after endoscopic repair of congenital bilateral
posterior choanal atresia does not seem to decrease the incidence of re-closure and restenosis of the posterior choana. On the other hand, there are higher complication rate from using the
stents like granulation tissue formation, excoriation or erosion of the nares, premature extrusion, dislodgement,
stent blockage, and the unsightly aspect of having
stents protrude from the nose.