Role of spirometry in detection of nasal obstruction

A subjective feeling of nasal airflow obstruction is a common symptom. An objective method for quantitative measurement of nasal airflow has long been desired. Rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry have been developed for anatomical and physiological evaluation of nasal obstruction. This study was...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of laryngology and otology 2013-03, Vol.127 (3), p.271-273
Main Authors: Farhadi, M, Ghanbari, H, Izadi, F, Amintehran, E, Eikani, M S, Ghavami, Y
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Allergies
Child
Evaluation Studies as Topic
Female
Humans
Main Articles
Male
Methods
Middle Aged
Nasal Cavity - physiology
Nasal Obstruction - diagnosis
Nasal Septum
Nose
Nose Deformities, Acquired
Patients
Rhinometry, Acoustic
Sensitivity and Specificity
Spirometry - instrumentation
Spirometry - methods
Studies
Tomography
Young Adult
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A subjective feeling of nasal airflow obstruction is a common symptom. An objective method for quantitative measurement of nasal airflow has long been desired. Rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry have been developed for anatomical and physiological evaluation of nasal obstruction. This study was designed to determine the usefulness of a portable spirometer in assessing upper airway obstruction. One hundred and ninety-six patients were assessed with nasal inspiratory spirometry to determine nasal airflow. All patients also underwent paranasal sinus computed tomography to determine anatomical abnormalities. Spirometry was performed on each nostril separately. Sensitivity and specificity levels were high. This portable and easy to use device may be useful in respiratory assessment. Correlation between anatomical obstructions and subjects' complaints was statistically significant (p < 0.001), but no definite correlation between septal deviation severity and spirometric values was found. Portable spirometry is an objective and useful method of evaluating nasal obstruction, but needs more investigation to establish a standardised test.
ISSN:0022-2151
1748-5460
DOI:10.1017/S0022215112003283