THE EFFECT OF THE VARİOUS HEAD POSİTİONS ON NASALl CONGESTİON İN PATİENTS WİTH NOCTURNAL NASAL CONGESTİON

Method : 32 cases who were older than 18 years old without nasal polyposis or recent nasal surgery within the past 3 months were entered to the study. All cases were evaluated regarding the presence of allergic rhinitis and the smoking status and the medications used were noted. Patients were held in the supine with the head 45 degrees elevated, upright and supine positions for 15 minutes and then mean total nasal airflow values were measured by using rinoflowmetry is performed. Results are evaluated by using One-way ANOVA and Post-hoc Tukey tests.

Results: Eleven cases had a history of at least half pack cigarette smoking a day and eight cases had allergic rhinitis. The mean total nasal airflow rate was found to be lowest in the supine position (141.6 ± 133.6 cm³/sn), highest in the erect position (460.6 ± 174.2 cm³/sn), and 380.7 ± 173.6 cm3/sn in the head 45 degrees elevated position. The mean total nasal airflow rate in the supine position was found to be significantly lower than the rates in other positions (p<0.001). There wasnt any significant difference between rate in the supine with the head 45 degrees elevated and upright positions.

Conclusion: Lying in supine with the head 45 degrees elevated position, significantly reduces the nasal congestion and improves nasal airflow rate in patients with nocturnal congestion. Keywords : Nasal obstruction, nasal congestion, nocturnal, position