title: Surgery of the external nasal valve: the correlation between subjective and objective measurements.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Minimum cross-sectional area of the nasal passage on CT (CT-MCA) is an objective computerised determination of the minimum cross-sectional area of the nasal passage on CT. CT-MCA was evaluated before and after surgery on the external nasal valve using the 'lateral crus pull-up' procedure (LCPU). The outcomes of CT-MCA were compared with other currently available objective tests for nasal valve patency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 34 patients undergoing surgery on the external nasal valve with the use of the LCPU technique. CT-MCA was performed before and after surgery and compared with the subjective perception of nasal passage using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale and with objective tests such as acoustic rhinometry (A-MCA), rhinomanometry (NAR) and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study showed a significant correlation between CT-MCA and the NOSE scale, PNIF and NAR. Paired-samples t-tests showed significant improvement after surgery on CT-MCA, PNIF and the NOSE scale. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that PNIF, CT-MCA and NAR were significantly associated with the NOSE scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT-MCA and PNIF were both significantly correlated and associated with the patient's subjective perception of nasal passage. The surgical procedure, the 'lateral crus pull-up', showed a significant improvement in the postoperative result both subjectively and objectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - FPS, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands; O.L.V.G., Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Menger
authors.forename: K M A
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Swart
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Nolst Trenité
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Georgalas
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grolman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000601:surgery*; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D025363:Rhinomanometry; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult