Use of a modified stethoscope to assess paediatric nasal airflow in suspected choanal atresia, nasal stents or nasopharyngeal airways.

Choanal atresia is a congenital bony or membranous blockage of the posterior end of the nasal passage on one or both sides, as a result of failed recanalization during fetal development. It often occurs in CHARGE syndrome, but can occur in isolation (1). Bilateral cases usually present with respiratory distress within the first few hours or days of life, as neonates are obligate nasal breathers. Unilateral cases may present early in life, but diagnosis is often delayed, as a single patent nasal passage typically allows satisfactory ventilation.