No abstract available.
Rhinomanometry*

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery(FESS) is now the surgical procedure of choice for treating chronic sinusitis in patients of all ages. We performed the olfactory threshold test after FESS and assessed its clinical value. From Feburary 1996 through July 1966, fifty bilateral sinusitis patients had received FESS and butanol threshold test and odor identification test were performed pre-operatively, at post-operative 1 month, and at post-operative 2 months. We analyzed preoperative computed tomography to determine the grade of sinusitis and status of olfactory fissure. The status of olfactory fissure significantly influenced the preoperative olfactory threshold score(p<0.001). At post-operative 2 months, the subjective symptoms of the patients were improved in 96% of patients and objective olfactory threshold were improve in 68% of patients. There was no correlation between subjective symptoms and olfactory threshold improvement. Our study suggests that the olfactory threshold test may predict the result of FESS, however for more accurate and reliable assessment, we should consider other objective methods like anterior rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinometry, ciliary beat frequency test, and post-operative endoscopic findings.
Humans ; Odors ; Rhinomanometry ; Rhinometry, Acoustic ; Sinusitis ; Smell

Active anterior rhinomanometry (AAR) was performed in 42 patients with low-profile or saddle noses before augmentation rhinoplasty (AR) and after AR. The purpose was to measure nasal airway resistance (NAR) and nasal airflow (NAF). There were 38 females and 4 males, whose ages ranged from 15 to 42 years (mean 29.6 years). Preoperative total NAR at 75 Pascals (Pa) was 0.24+/-0.09 and 0.20+/-0.06 Pa/ml/sec for the non-decongested and decongested value respectively. Two weeks postoperatively, the total NAR was 0.19+/-0.06 and 0.15+/-0.05 Pa/ml/sec for the non-decongested and decongested value respectively, which was significantly less than the preoperative value. The postoperative total NAF was 422.31+/-137.05 cm3 and 514. 57+/-152.45 cm3 for the non-decongested and decongested value respectively, which was significantly increased when compared to the preoperative value (342.57+/-109.27 cm3 and 399.90+/-106.98 cm3 for the non-decongested and decongested value respectively). The comparison between the changes in NAR and subjective nasal breathing showed that the postoperative NAR decreased in 88.10% of patients while subjective nasal breathing improved in only 52.38%. Postoperative NAR increased in 9.52% of patients, while subjective nasal breathing was worsened in 2.38%. The results of this study indicate that AR has decreased the NAR and increased NAF, and thus improving the nasal breathing. From this preliminary study it is concluded that AR is useful not only for the aesthetic aspect but also for its effect on the function of the nose, especially on the improvement of nasal breathing.
Airway Resistance* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nose ; Respiration ; Rhinomanometry ; Rhinoplasty*

OBJECTIVES: The purpose is to investigate effect of septoplasty and widened nasal patency on voice quality. METHODS: Fifty patients who undergone septoplasty were included in the study. Thirty-three people who had similar age and distribution were enrolled as control group. Before and 1 and 3 months after surgery, anterior rhinomanometry, voice analysis by Multi-Dimensional Voice Program, and spectrographic analysis were performed to patients. The recordings of /a/ vowel were used to evaluate average fundamental frequency (F0), jitter percent, and shimmer percent. In spectrographic analyses, F3–F4 values for the vowels /i, e, a, o, and u/, nasal formant frequencies of the consonants /m/ and /n/ in the word /mini/, and 4 formant frequencies (F1, F2, F3, and F4) for nasalized /i/ vowel following a nasal consonant /n/ in the word /mini/ were compared. The differences in nasal resonance were evaluated. All patients were asked whether change in their voices after the surgery. Preoperative and postoperative voice parameters and anterior rhinomanometry results were compared separately with the control group as well as in the patient group itself. RESULTS: Preoperative total nasal resistance (TNR) values of patients were higher than the control group (P=0.001). TNR values of patients measured one day before surgery and after surgery in the 1st and 3rd months were different and these differences were significant statistically (P=0.001). There was no significant difference between the voice analysis parameters in preoperative, postoperative 1st, and 3rd months. As a result of their subjective reviews, 12 patients (36%) noted their voices were better than before surgery and 20 patients (61%) noted no change before and after surgery. CONCLUSION: Providing widened nasal cavity has no effect on voice quality.
Humans ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Septum ; Rhinomanometry ; Voice Quality* ; Voice*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To measure nasal cavity function as an airway, rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry are currently being used in clinical settings. However, these methods are not helpful for continuously measuring the aerodynamic status of both nasal cavities simultaneously. Therefore, a new instrument to evaluate the nasal flow is required. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To measure the airflow of bilateral nasal cavity simultaneously, two thermocouples are held in the headset, with the tips of thermocouples positioned below nostrils. The thermocouples are connected to the analog-digital converter and the digitized data is transferred to a notebook computer, in which a graphical programming language software is installed. Eighteen adults were recruited for this study who had no structural abnormality in their nasal cavities. For every subject, measurements from acoustic rhinometry, the thermocouple device, and rhinomanometry were taken in succession. The data from the thermocouple device was compared with those taken from the acoustic rhinometry and rhinomanometry. RESULTS: A negative correlation was noted between the minimum cross-sectional area by acoustic rhinometry and the inspiratory slope by thermocouple. No correlation was noted between the results for rhinomanometry and the thermocouple device. CONCLUSION: The thermocouple device has some advantages over other devices for its non-invasive, continuous, and real-time measurements and its ability to measure bilateral nasal cavity simultaneously.
Adult ; Humans ; Nasal Cavity ; Programming Languages ; Rhinomanometry ; Rhinometry, Acoustic

The purpose of this study was to provide quantitative data describing the effect of rapid palatal expansion (RPE) on nasal airway resistance (NAR). RPE is an orthopedic procedure which is commonly used to widen the maxilla in skeletal Class III patients. 18 subjects (9 males and 9 females, mean age: 10 years 7 months) were selected from the Orthodontics in Yongdong Severance Hospital. Recordings of NAR were taken by active anterior method prior to expansion, immediately after desired maximum expansion, and after approximately 3 months and 6 months, and 1 year. All data was recorded and statistically processed with the SPSS program of IBM PC system. The results are as followings: 1. The average initial NAR of the subjects was 3.84cm H2O/LPS (SD +/- 1.34). It was greater than the average NAR of the normal subjects. 2. Among 18 subjects, 9 subjects showed reduction of NAR and 9 subjects showed no specific change of NAR after expansion. 3. An average reduction in NAR after immediately expansion was statistically significant at the 0.05 level. 4. The reduction appeared stable throughout the post treatment observation period of 1 year after expansion. From these results, it was suggested that RPE is a useful method to reduce NAR.
Airway Resistance* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Maxilla ; Orthodontics ; Orthopedic Procedures ; Rhinomanometry*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to compare the nasalance between chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients and normal controls and to determine the correlation of nasalance with nasal volume, nasal resistance, CT score, and polyp score in CRS patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study enrolled 150 CRS patients and 154 normal adults. All subjects underwent acoustic rhinometry and rhinomanometry. Nasalance scores were measured with the nasometer. All CRS patients were graded according to the Lund-Mackay CT staging system and the degree of nasal polyp. RESULTS: Nasal volume was decreased and nasal resistance was increased in CRS patients compared with normal controls. However, the nasalance scores for oro-nasal and nasal passages were significantly higher in CRS patients compared with normal controls. In CRS patients, the nasalance score for the nasal passage showed positive correlation with nasal volume and negative correlation with nasal resistance and Lund-Mackay CT score. However, no significant correlation was found between nasalance score and endoscopic polyp score. CONCLUSION: Contrary to expectations, nasalance was increased in CRS patients despite decreased nasal volume and increased nasal resistance. Thus, nasal resonance likely depends on a multitude of factors other than changes in the sinonasal cavity.
Adult ; Humans ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Polyps ; Polyps ; Rhinomanometry ; Rhinometry, Acoustic ; Sinusitis ; Voice Quality

The primary objective of this study was to determine whether adenoid hypertrophy and subsequent adenoidectomy affect pediatric nasal airway resistance and nasal geometry. The secondary objective was to evaluate the relationships between the degree of adenoid hypertrophy and nasal airway resistance or nasal geometry. Fifty-one children, aged 5 to 10 years, selected for adenoidectomy due to chronic nasal obstruction and mouth breathing were enrolled. The size of adenoid was evaluated by cephalometric radiograph. Nasal airway resistance and nasal geometry were evaluated by active anterior rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry respectively. These measurements were repeated 3 months after operation. The size of adenoid was found well correlated to preoperative nasal airway resistance but was not to preoperative nasal geometry. Nasal geometry was not changed after operation. However, nasal airway resistance was reduced significantly at 3 months after operation and the size of adenoid was found well correlated to postoperative changes of nasal airway resistances.
Adenoidectomy* ; Adenoids ; Airway Resistance* ; Child ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Mouth Breathing ; Nasal Obstruction ; Rhinomanometry ; Rhinometry, Acoustic

THE AIM OF STUDY: The transseptal-transsphenoidal approach (TSA) for pituitary tumors may alter nasal functions, including nasal respiration and olfaction. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of TSA in terms of nasal functions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty two cases of pituitary tumors, managed at Seoul National University Hospital from May 1997 through March 1998, were included in this prospective study. Nasal functions were evaluated preoperatively and 2 months after the operation through symptom questionnaires, rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinometry and the butanol thres-hold test. RESULTS: The subjective nasal symptoms, including nasal obstruction and olfaction, were not changed following the operation in 72% and 86% of the cases, respectively. In the objective findings, total nasal resistance was not grossly changed after the operation, however, cross-sectional areas at C-notch and 3.3 cm from the anterior nasal spine increased significantly after the operation. Mucosal response to a topical vasoconstrictor after the operation was less effective than before the preoperation. CONCLUSION: TSA for pituitary tumors may be a safe and effective technique in preserving nasal functions subjectively and objectively.
Nasal Obstruction ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Prospective Studies ; Respiration ; Rhinomanometry ; Rhinometry, Acoustic ; Seoul ; Smell ; Spine ; Surveys and Questionnaires

During the past decades, numerous computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies, constructed from CT or MRI images, have simulated human nasal models. As compared to rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry, which provide quantitative information only of nasal airflow, resistance, and cross sectional areas, CFD enables additional measurements of airflow passing through the nasal cavity that help visualize the physiologic impact of alterations in intranasal structures. Therefore, it becomes possible to quantitatively measure, and visually appreciate, the airflow pattern (laminar or turbulent), velocity, pressure, wall shear stress, particle deposition, and temperature changes at different flow rates, in different parts of the nasal cavity. The effects of both existing anatomical factors, as well as post-operative changes, can be assessed. With recent improvements in CFD technology and computing power, there is a promising future for CFD to become a useful tool in planning, predicting, and evaluating outcomes of nasal surgery. This review discusses the possibilities and potential impacts, as well as technical limitations, of using CFD simulation to better understand nasal airflow physiology.
Humans ; Hydrodynamics ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Surgical Procedures ; Nose ; Rhinomanometry ; Rhinometry, Acoustic