Congenital unilateral nasal aperture stenosis

Abstract

Congenital nasal aperture stenosis is an unusual cause of upper airway obstruction among neonates, and rarely presents as unilateral. Most commonly presents as choanal atresia. A CT evaluation is essential to confirm the diagnosis. Both surgical and conservative management can be applied, based on the severity of the associated clinical presentation; however, the very rare unilateral condition is usually treated conservatively. We present a case of a 30-day-old male baby (second twin, preterm 29 weeks pregnancy, and birth weight 1.070 kg) with difficult breathing since birth. The baby was referred for an ENT consultation. He was on a nasal cannula, not in respiratory distress, with no stridor, nor tachypnea. There were decreased breathing sounds in the left nostril. Nasogastric tubes size 8 French (Fr) and 6 Fr could not be introduced through the left nostril, which looked obstructed more anteriorly.