title: Assessment of nasal obstruction. A comparison between rhinomanometry and nasal inspiratory peak flow.
abstract: In several conditions objective assessment of nasal obstruction would be of great value. In this study we have compared two different methods for this purpose. Anterior rhinomanometry is a well established method, which measures nasal airway resistance (NAR). This was compared with nasal inspiratory peak flow (NIPF) measured with a Youlten peak flow meter. The assessments were undertaken in patients with allergic rhinitis, before and after challenge with hyperosmolar saline solution. After challenge there was a fall in NIPF value as a mean of 17.4%, that was mirrored by a rise in NAR of 15.6%. There was also a statistically significant negative linear correlation between these two methods (p less than 0.01). We conclude that NIPF is a cheap, easily performed and quick method suitable for assessing nasal airway patency in e.g. allergics during treatment and during challenge.
authors: Professional Unit, Institute of Otology and Laryngology, London, United Kingdom.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Holmström
authors: G K
authors: GK
authors: Scadding
authors: V J
authors: VJ
authors: Lund
authors: Y C
authors: YC
authors: Darby
mesh_terms: D000403:Airway Resistance; D006801:Humans; D008365:Manometry; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009299:Nasal Provocation Tests; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000503:physiopathology