Expiratory nasal sound analysis as a new method for evaluation of nasal obstruction in patients with nasal septal deviation: comparison of expiratory nasal sounds from both deviated and normal nasal cavity.
BACKGROUND
The reliability of nasal obstruction measurements could be improved, and several new techniques are being developed. Our objective was to investigate the use of a new software program, Odiosoft-Rhino, in the assessment of nasal obstruction via analysis of the sounds of nasal expiration.


METHODS
We compared the nasal symptom scores and Odiosoft-Rhino and acoustic rhinometry test results for 61 patients with known nasal septal deviation.


RESULTS
We found a significant difference, and a correlation, between Odiosoft-Rhino results at 2000-4000 Hz and 4000-6000 Hz intervals, and the minimal cross-sectional area 2.2 cm from the nostril, in the right nasal cavity in patients with right-sided deviations. Similar results were observed for the left nasal cavity in patients with left-sided deviations.


CONCLUSIONS
The Odiosoft-Rhino software test is noninvasive, requires minimal cooperation and experience, and provides results that can be saved as digital data. Additionally, data from the Odiosoft-Rhino test are strongly correlated with acoustic rhinometry results and visual analogue scores of nasal obstruction. It seems that sound intensity within the 2000-4000 Hz and 4000-6000 Hz intervals is more sensitive than other sound intensity intervals. Thus, we speculate that Odiosoft-Rhino testing could be used as a new diagnostic method in order to evaluate nasal airflow in clinical practice.
Tahamiler
R
R
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Cerrahpasa Medicine School, Istanbul University, Turkey. tahamiler@gmail.com
Canakcioglu
S
S
Yilmaz
S
S
Dirican
A
A
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000002:abnormalities; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography