Abstract
Background
Acoustic rhinometry is more accurate in the anterior portion of the nasal cavities, from the nostril to the nasal valve (NV), the most important site of nasal obstruction. Literature presents different opinions regarding the anatomical correlation of the two notches at the beginning of the rhinogram curve in normal adult white individuals. The aim of this study was to present new data for a better understanding of the anatomic correlation of these two notches.
Methods
This prospective study included 32 nasal cavities under the following conditions: (1) basal condition, (2) with external nasal dilator strip (ENDS), (3) after decongestion (0.05% oxymetazoline chloride applied as an aerosol spray), and (4) after decongestion with ENDS.
Results
No statistically significant variation was observed in the cross-sectional area of the first notch (CSA1) after decongestion. However, there was a statistically significant increase in the CSA2 after ENDS.
Conclusion
Analysis of the results suggested that the first notch of the rhinogram refers to the nostril and the second notch refers to the NV as a whole.
This study was part of the clinical trial NCT01411969 registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov.
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