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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

A Novel Rescue Technique for Difficult Intubation and Difficult Ventilation
Published on: January 17, 2011
External nasal valve collapse - a case-control and interventional study employing a novel internal nasal dilator
H Riechelmann1, E Karow, D DiDio
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medicial University Innsbruck, Innbruck, Austria. herbert.riechelmann@i-med.ac.at
Background:
Nasal alar collapse is a common problem and difficult to assess and treat.
Methods:
In 10 healthy controls and 10 patients with alar collapse, the size of the external nasal valve was analyzed on standardized nasal base photographs during quiet breathing and forced inspiration. A novel internal nasal dilator (Nasanita, Siemens & Co, Germany) was employed to assess the effects of a therapeutic intervention. In addition, active anterior rhinomanometry was performed.
Results:
During quiet breathing, the external nasal valves were significantly smaller in patients with alar collapse (0.3 +/- 0.08 cm2) than in controls (0.7 +/- 0.2 cm2; p < 0.001). In heal-thy controls, forced inspiration did not significantly alter the size of the external nasal valve (-1.8% +/- 27.5%; p = 0.84), whereas it significantly decreased the external valve area in patients with alar collapse (-42.1% +/- 26.4%; p = 0.001). The internal nasal dilator significantly increased external valve areas during quiet breathing and forced inspiration and completely abolished alar collapse. Nasal airflow at a transnasal pressure difference of 150 Pa was not correlated with external valve size. Nasal airflow increased significantly after inserting the internal nasal dilator to 1300 +/- 370 ml/s (p < 0.001) in controls and 1300 +/-300 ml/s (p < 0.01) in patients.
Conclusion:
A small sized external nasal valve appears to be a major causative factor of alar collapse. A novel internal nasal dilator effectively enlarged the external nasal valve, abolished alar collapse and improved nasal airflow.
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