Blood flow and pulse amplitude in the mucosa of the human maxillary sinus in relation to body posture.
The paranasal sinuses are non-collapsible ventilated gas pockets without any known function. They should, however, be adequately ventilated to stay healthy. Persons lying in a recumbent body position compared to persons sitting or standing upright have reduced antral mucosal blood flow, a reduction of 35%, and a congested mucosa which reduces both the mucosal gas exchange and the perostial ventilation, creating a more anaerobic antral gas mixture facilitating pathogenic bacterial growth and reduced ciliary activity. It is, therefore, recommendable for patients with sinusitis to treat themselves or be treated in an upright or semi-recumbent body position.
Falck
B
B
Dept. of O.R.L., University Hospital Uppsala, Sweden.
Svanholm
H
H
Aust
R
R
Bäcklund
L
L
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000098:blood supply*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology; D010991:Plethysmography; D011187:Posture; D011674:Pulse / Q000502:physiology*