Use of the automatic tympanometer as a screening tool for congenital choanal atresia

• Published in: Journal of laryngology and otology Vol. 119; no. 2; pp. 125 - 128
• Main Author: Effat, Kamal G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.02.2005
• Subjects: (RF) Otorhinolaryngology; Acoustic Impedance Tests; Acoustic Impedance Tests - instrumentation; Acoustic Impedance Tests - methods; Biological and medical sciences; Choanal Atresia; Choanal Atresia - complications; Choanal Atresia - diagnosis; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Mass Screening; Medical sciences; Nasal Obstruction - etiology; Neonatal Screening - methods; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Prospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Acoustic Impedance Tests; Mass Screening; Choanal Atresia; Human; Congenital; Use; Choana; ENT; Medical screening; Acoustic impedance; Newborn; Malformation; Atresia
• ISSN: 0022-2151; 1748-5460
• DOI: 10.1258/0022215053419925

Choanal atresia is a significant congenital anomaly, which may be associated with other congenital anomalies. Recommendations have been previously proposed for neonatal screening of all newborns to detect this condition. A previously unreported, simple method using the automatic tympanometer to screen newborns for congenital choanal atresia is proposed. A prospective study was performed over a one-month period on all newborns at El-Sahel Teaching Hospital, Cairo, to evaluate the efficacy of this manoeuvre. The nostrils of 143 newborn infants were evaluated during the study period. The sensitivity of the technique in diagnosing a patent nostril was 100 per cent. The specificity of the technique for detecting distal obstruction was 100 per cent. There were no complications of the described procedures. The study revealed that the novel method of screening for choanal atresia in newborns using the automatic tympanometer is simple, minimally invasive and highly reproducible.