Nasal surgery and airway resistance

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of surgery and bronchodilatation on nasal and pulmonary resistance. The plethysmograph is evaluated as a clinical tool for nasal flow studies. The method of adapting the plethysmograph to measure nasal resistance is presented. Discriminant Function Analysis considers the effects of surgery and bronchodilatation on 15 variables. The statistical analysis of 38 cases demonstrates the benefits of improved nasal airway for pulmonary airway resistance. A review of the literature points out many of the difficulties in measuring nasal airflow. The plethysmograph emerges as an available easily adapted clinical tool that overcomes many of the short‐comings in earlier techniques and in rhinomanometry. The rhinologist is offered further insight into the nasopulmonary relationship and the use of the plethysmograph to document the effects of nasal surgery.

Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy: Review and Graduated Approach to Surgical Management

“…Objective means of evaluating the nasal airway such as acoustic rhinometry, rhinomanometry, and other similar techniques are not used routinely. 2–6…”

Analysis of Outcomes After Functional Rhinoplasty Using a Disease-Specific Quality-of-Life Instrument

“…Several studies have attempted to measure outcome after septoplasty or rhinoplasty, or both, using quantitative techniques such as rhinomanometry. [8][9][10][11][12] A more recent study has used patient-based outcome measures. 13 In 2005, a prospective examination of a small group of patients demonstrated improved quality of life (QOL) after functional rhinoplasty.…”

Statistical Distribution of Nasal Airway Data in the Evaluation of Nasal Surgery Patients

“…In studying the rhinomanometric results before and after nasal surgery some studies have used non-parametric statistics 3 " 5 and some have used parametric methods. 1 ' 2 ' 6 -9 ' 13 - 14 Of those using parametric methods, most 36 - 9 have used data that has been mathematically transformed to try and obtain a normal distribution for the data for the parameter being reported. Some studies have used both parametric and nonparametric methods.…”