Choanal atresia is a rare developmental anomaly characterized by failure of communication of the posterior nasal cavity with the nasopharynx. It may be complete or incomplete, unilateral (60%) or bilateral (40%), bony (90%) or membranous (10%) or a combination of these.
The anomaly presents either immediately after birth as respiratory distress, or as a coincidental finding at an older age. The condition is the most common nasal abnormality, affecting in 1 out of every 7,000 to 8,000 live births, with a 2:1 female-to-male ratio.