The relationship between water vapour saturation of inhaled air and nasal patency

Abstract

The nasal cavity volume and the temperature of the nasal mucosa are considered to be the most important predictors of nasal conditioning. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the intranasal degree of water vapour saturation of inhaled air and nasal patency.Intranasal humidity values at different locations within the nasal cavity of 15 healthy subjects were compared to nasal airway resistance detected by active anterior rhinomanometry (AAR). Repeated measurements were carried out during one day to obtain varying nasal cavity volumes due to the nasal cycle. The end-inspiratory humidity data were obtained with a miniaturised capacitive humidity sensor at defined detection sites within the anterior nasal segment without interruption of nasal breathing. Measurements were carried out at four different times during one day.The degree of water vapour saturation did not correlate with the values of the AAR at any intranasal detection site and time of detection during one day.The study supports the view that there is no correlation between the degree of water vapour saturation within the anterior nasal segment and the nasal resistance during the nasal cycle over the day. Although nasal patency varies because of the nasal cycle, the changes of nasal cavity volume due to the nasal cycle do not seem to influence the degree of water vapour saturation of the inspiratory air.

Tracheal Climate in Laryngectomees after Use of a Heat and Moisture Exchanger

“…Signals of this device (TEMP‐2 and RH‐2) were compared with TEMP and RH signals that were simultaneously recorded directly in front of the patient's tracheal stoma (TEMP‐1 and RH‐1). Tracheal measurements of TEMP and humidity before and after application of an HME were performed similarly to measurements of nasal conditioning, as described previously by our working group 7–9 …”

Nasal airflow and thoracoabdominal motion in children using infrared thermographic video processing

“…1 and 2A). This varying nasal mucosa temperature, which depends on local capillary blood temperature distribution, and the nasal cavity volume significantly contribute to the air‐conditioning process 30. On the other hand, just as chest wall dilation and contraction coincide with the displacements of definite zones within the body thermographic map (Fig.…”

Measurement of Tracheal Humidity and Temperature

“…In numerous studies, the experimental setup of our study was shown to be suitable for evaluating the humidifying and temperature-adjusting capacity of the respiratory tract [6,7,8]. Because of its easy handling the upper tracheal airway could be safely investigated.…”

“…The technical equipment for tracheal measurement of temperature and relative humidity (RH) was similar to the detection equipment for the measurement of nasal conditioning as described previously [6,7,8]. A thermocouple was connected to an RH sensor and placed into the upper part of the trachea.…”