Nasal Airflow in Health and Disease

Abstract

This review examines our present understanding of the physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology of nasal airflow. The main aim of the review is to discuss the basic scientific and clinical knowledge that is essential for a proper understanding of the usefulness of measurements of nasal airflow in the clinical practice of rhinology. The review concludes with a discussion of the measurement of nasal airflow to assess the efficacy of surgery in the treatment of nasal obstruction. Areas covered by the review include: influence of nasal blood vessels on nasal airflow; nasal valve and control of nasal airflow; autonomic control of nasal airflow; normal nasal airflow; nasal cycle; central control of nasal airflow; effect of changes in posture on nasal airflow; effect of exercise on nasal airflow; effect of hyperventilation and rebreathing on nasal airflow; nasal airflow in animals; cerebral effects of nasal airflow; sensation of nasal airflow; sympathomimetics and sympatholytics; histamine and antihistamines; bradykinin; and corticosteroids.

Computed Tomographic Evaluation of Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy in Adult Indo-Dravidian Patients With Deviated Nasal Septum

“…With cases of acute rhinitis it appears that the main cause of turbinate enlargement is filling of venous sinuses, since the size of the turbinate can be reduced by application of a topical decongestant [16]. Combination of factors responsible for mucosal enlargement includes cellular hyperplasia, vascular congestion and intercellular edema.…”

Compensatory Rapid Switching of Binasal Inputs in the Olfactory Cortex

“…A slight to mild inflammatory rhinitis causes one of the typical symptoms, a spontaneous alternative unilateral obstruction because of the nasal congestion. Complete or partial obstruction of a unilateral airway occurs even in normal physiological conditions, and has been reported as nasal cycle (BojsenMoller and Fahrenkrug, 1971;Eccles, 2000a). Such a collapse of a unilateral nasal airway prevents environmental odor information from reaching not only the olfactory epithelium (OE) but also the olfactory bulb (OB) on the blocked side; this occurs because the olfactory sensory neurons in the OE selectively project their axons to the ipsilateral (ipsi)-OB ( Fig.…”

Right Versus Left Prong Nasal Cannula Flow Delivery and the Effects of Nasal Cycling on Inspired FIO2in an Adult Anatomic Model

“…We first sought to determine whether significant differences existed between right and left prong flow and then evaluated the effects of nasal cycling on the F IO 2 delivered via nasal cannula. The null hypotheses state: (1) there is no significant difference in the oxygen flow delivered from the right and left nasal cannula prongs, and (2) there is no statistical difference in the inspired F IO 2 while using a nasal cannula in the presence of nasal cycling causing complete occlusion of one nasal passage or with patent nasal passages.…”

“…1 The phenomenon known as the "nasal cycle" was first reported in scientific literature over 100 y ago and was described by Kayser 2 in 1895. Eccles later described the nasal cycle as "spontaneous and often reciprocal changes in unilateral air flow associated with congestion and decongestion of the nasal venous sinuses."…”

“…Eccles later described the nasal cycle as "spontaneous and often reciprocal changes in unilateral air flow associated with congestion and decongestion of the nasal venous sinuses." 1 This has been reported to cause asymmetrical air flow through the nasal passages with the dominant flow regularly alternating between nasal passages while maintaining a constant total nasal resistance. 3,4 Heetderks 5 reported that the duration of each nasal cycle for humans is between 25 min and 4 h with an average of 2.5 h between cycles.…”