Can we always trust rhinomanometry?

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Respiratory Medicine
• Medical Device Technology

Background:

• Rhinomanometry is crucial for diagnosing nasal airway obstruction, differentiating stenosis from mucosal congestion.
• Accurate rhinomanometry measurements are essential for surgical decision-making in patients with nasal stuffiness.
• Reproducibility of nasal airway resistance (NAR) measurements is vital for reliable clinical interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the long-term reproducibility of active anterior rhinomanometry.
• To evaluate the impact of decongestion on nasal airway resistance measurements over time.
• To determine the reliability of rhinomanometry for assessing nasal airway patency.

Main Methods:

• Repetitive active anterior rhinomanometry performed on 9 participants over 5 months.
• Test-retest measurements conducted within an hour to assess short-term reproducibility.
• Standardized decongestion using xylometazoline hydrochloride and rhinoscopic examination.

Main Results:

• Long-term mean coefficient of variation (CV) for NAR was 27%, while short-term CV (within 1 hour) was 7-17%.
• Mean NAR reduction post-decongestion was 33%, but 13% of measurements showed no reduction.
• Subjective nasal stuffiness (VAS) assessment showed poor correlation with objective NAR measurements.

Conclusions:

• High long-term variation in NAR indicates low reproducibility of rhinomanometry over extended periods.
• Standardized decongestion protocols may be necessary to enhance the long-term reliability of rhinomanometry.
• Further research is needed to improve the reproducibility of rhinomanometry for clinical applications.