Gastroesophageal reflux complicating choanal atresia repair.

Four infants with bilateral congenital choanal atresia (CCA) underwent transpalatal (3) or transnasal (1) repairs. Postoperatively all four infants experienced gastroesophageal reflux (GER) with intermittent nasal reflux. GER was documented by GER radionuclide scanning in one patient and by dual nasopharyngeal and esophageal pH probe studies in the remaining three patients. The infants with documented GER required prolonged stenting and dilations for choanal restenosis and granulations. The literature emphasizes the importance of the technical repair for prevention of these complications; GER can be a significant complicating factor.