A new approach to studying the nasal and oral breathing routes.
BACKGROUND
Nasal obstruction is often reported by patients. It is a consequence of a subjective feeling of impaired airflow through the nasal cavity. Currently, objective measures of nasal patency rates are very limited. Functional tests only analyze nasal breathing; they do not simultaneously assess airflow through the mouth.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to present a new functional test that assesses a single-stage nasal and oral breathing route.


METHODS
The NOFA (Nasal-Oral Flow Analyzer) is a three-channel flow meter used to perform continuous and simultaneous measurements of nasal and oral respiratory parameters. We present the application of the device and the proposed study protocol.


RESULTS
The respiratory tracks of four selected patients are presented. Different breathing patterns are visible: exclusive nasal, exclusive oral, and mixed nasal-oral ventilation pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
The preliminary results suggest the potential use of the NOFA in ENT practice. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the usefulness of this device in the diagnosis of patients with upper respiratory tract disorders.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Czerniakowski Hospital, Medical University of Warsaw, Head: prof. dr hab. n. med. Antoni Krzeski, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Disease, University of Varmia and Masuria School of Medicine, Head: dr hab. n. med. Anna Doboszyńska, prof. UWM, Olsztyn, Poland.
Andrzej
A
Kukwa
MES Ltd., Kraków, Poland.
Andrzej
A
Dymek
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Czerniakowski Hospital, Medical University of Warsaw, Head: prof. dr hab. n. med. Antoni Krzeski, Warsaw, Poland.
Adam
A
Galazka
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Czerniakowski Hospital, Medical University of Warsaw, Head: prof. dr hab. n. med. Antoni Krzeski, Warsaw, Poland.
Antoni
A
Krzeski
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Czerniakowski Hospital, Medical University of Warsaw, Head: prof. dr hab. n. med. Antoni Krzeski, Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: wkukwa@yahoo.pl.
Wojciech
W
Kukwa
D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D009055:Mouth / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012119:Respiration; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*
Acoustic rhinometry; Nasal obstruction; Nasal patency; Rhinomanometry; Septoplasty; akustyczna rynometria; drożność nosa; niedrożność nosa; rynomanometria; septoplastyka