Abstract
Atresia of the posterior nares is a condition characterized by closure of one or both posterior choanae. The obstructing partition may be either complete or incomplete and may be membranous, membrano-osseous or osseous. It is not atresia in the true sense of the word in that it probably occurs because of the failure of normally occurring embryonic structures to disappear. Choanal atresia, although a rare anomaly, has been described in the literature for over a hundred years. It was first portrayed in 1829 by Otto,1 who observed it at autopsy. In 1853, Emmert2 diagnosed and successfully operated on it in a 7 year old boy. In 1859, Luschka3 found it in a newborn dead child. In 1876, Betts4 reported a case in which it was discovered shortly after birth. Hubbel,5 in 1886, reviewed the literature and listed 17 recorded cases of congenital choanal atresia to which he added I. Clarke,6

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