CORRELATION BETWEEN SUBJECTIVE NASAL PATENCY FEELING AND OBJECTIVE FINDINGS IN NORMAL NOSE
İnönü Üniversitesi, Kulak Burun Boğaz, Malatya, Türkiye Objective: In this study we aimed to explain the limits of objective measurements like acoustic rhinometry (ARM) and rhinomanometry (RMM), which objective parameter correlates the individual's own nasal patency feeling and the relation between nasal resistance and minimal cross sectional area (MCA) in normal individuals who expects themselves as normal nasal breathers.Matherials and Methods: A total of 248 nasal cavities (124 volunteers) were measured by using ARM and RMM and also each volunteer scorred their nasal patency feelings on the “visual analogue scale (VAS)”.
Results: VAS scores showed a weak correlation with inspiratory total nasal resistance (tNR), but did not correlate with total volume (tVol) and expiratory tNR before decongestion. tVol didn't correlate with both inspiratory and expiratory tNR either before or after decongestion. In addition MCA1 and MCA2 did not correlate with NR at each side before and after decongestion.
Conclusion: It is recommended that both ARM and RMM should be used for evaluation of nasal patency; since no correlation exists between objective analysis methods and subjective patency feeling.
Keywords : Acoustic rhinometry, rhinomanometry, VAS