Nasal blood flow and airway resistance. Canine study

Nasal blood flow was measured in anesthetized dogs by an electromagnetic flow sensor placed around the terminal branch of the internal maxillary artery, the major arterial supply to the nasal mucosa. Nasal airway resistance was monitored simultaneously by recording the transnasal pressure when airflow through the nasal cavity was maintained constant. Phenylephrine decreased nasal blood flow and airway resistance while albuterol (salbutamol) did the opposite. Prostaglandin E1 increased nasal blood flow but decreased airway resistance. The present study demonstrates that nasal vascular and airway resistance may change in parallel or opposite directions, implying that nasal airway resistance cannot be used to assess the vascular situation in the nose.