Atomized Nasal Douche: Our Experience

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A recently proposed apparatus for the treatment of nasal inflammatory affections is the atomized nasal douche. The aim of the paper was to assess the efficacy of the atomized nasal douche in patients affected by acute or chronic rhinopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We selected 60 adult patients They were subdivided into two groups and each group consisted of 15 patients suffering from vasomotor rhinitis and 15 patients affected by acute rhinitis. The former underwent atomized nasal douche and the latter underwent nasal lavages with saline solution. We performed bacterial cultures of the nasal swab and the secretions drawn from the nasal cavity, a rhinomanometric test, an assessment of the symptomatologic score before and after the treatment in all the patients. RESULTS: At the end of treatment, there was a reduction or complete disappearance of the bacterial colonies in 23 of the 30 patients treated with the atomized nasal douche, while in the control group the same result occurred in only 10 of the 30 patients. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm that the atomized nasal douche performs an efficacious lavage of the nasal cavity, representing a good support for the treatment of inflammatory processes of the nose.