[The influence of air flow rate change on functional evaluation of semicircular canals].
OBJECTIVE
To calculate and compare the change of canal paresis (CP) and directional preponderance (DP) before and after changing air flow rate of testing ear, and to discuss the influence of air flow rate change of single ear on the final result of caloric test.


METHODS
The CPs and DPs were calculated when the caloric tests were carried out with the air flow rate 6 L/min in both ears as symmetry stimulation, and with the air flow rate 6 L/min in left ear and 3 L/min in right ear as asymmetric stimulation. Paired T test was used in analysis between symmetry and asymmetric group.


RESULTS
CPs and DPs declined significant in asymmetric group, and the difference was statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
When air flow rate declined, CP was to the same side, while DP was to opposite side. There might be false positive or negative result.
Department of Otolaryngology, Affiliated Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China.
Lizhi
L
Wang
Dongliang
D
Liu
Xiulan
X
Ma
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000388:Air; D002150:Caloric Tests; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult