title: Video-endoscopy and digital image analysis of the nasal valve area.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of digital image analysis of video-endoscopic images of the valve area to study changes in cross-sections of the nasal valve area before and after nasal surgery. Fifty patients scheduled for septoplasty or septorhinoplasty were included. Successful recordings of the valve area and digitally calculated cross-sections of the nasal valve area served as main outcome measures. First, various endoscopes (rigid 0 degrees - and 25 degrees -endoscopes and fibreoptic 0 degrees -endoscope) were tested and video-endoscopy was standardised in 39 patients. Second, preoperative and postoperative images of the nasal valve area in 11 patients with obstruction of the nasal valve area were digitally analysed and compared. In these patients, a significant widening of the valve area could be shown postoperatively. We conclude that digital image analysis of the nasal valve area can be helpful in the measurement of cross-sections of the nasal valve area before and after nasal surgical procedures in selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Ulm, Frauensteige 12, 89075, Ulm, Germany. tilman.keck@uniklinik-ulm.de
authors.forename: Tilman
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Keck
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leiacker
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kühnemann
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lindemann
authors.forename: Ajnacska
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rozsasi
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wantia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000403:Airway Resistance; D004724:Endoscopy; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery; D009667:Nose Deformities, Acquired / Q000601:surgery; D012225:Rhinoplasty; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014741:Video Recording / Q000379:methods*