ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of acoustic rhinometry (AR) in determination of nasal ventilation function in patients complaining of nasal obstruction, and to discuss the selection of parameters. METHOD: Acoustic rhinometry was measured in 36 patients complaining of nasal obstruction with nasal diseases and 20 adults without nasal obstruction as control, the parameters including mean nasal cross-sectional area (MNCA), minimal cross-sectional area (MCA), volume of nasal cavity (NV) and nasal resistance (NR). RESULT: There is no sex difference for MNCA, MCA, NV and NR measured in control group (P > 0.05), and no lateral difference except NV (P < 0.05). MCA and NR show remarkable difference between patients and control (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acoustic rhinometry can be adopted as an objective way to evaluate the nasal ventilation. Since MCA and NR coincide with the subjective perception of patients, they can be used as the sensitive parameters to evaluate the nasal ventilation function.
