Rhinomanometry before Septoplasty: An Approach to Clinical Material with Diverse Nasal Symptoms

Abstract

Preoperative and postoperative rhinomanometry was performed on 102 patients referred for septoplasty. Nasal resistance was calculated according to the Broms method at radius 200 and at 150 Pascal pressure gradient. Because the latter could be calculated in only 62% of the recordings during normal nasal breathing, the Broms method is used in the analysis and also recommended for clinical practice. Results show that in cases with airway obstruction as the cause for surgery, the increase of nasal patency achieved with the operation was larger than in cases with other indications. The level of subjective satisfaction was highest among those patients whose nasal resistance was changed to normal limits. Rhinomanometry gives valuable data in cases where the patient's symptom is obstruction, but its value is not as clear in other indication groups. Rhinomanometry clearly shows cases where surgery has failed to correct the nasal obstruction and is, therefore, a good method of quality control. Preoperative rhinomanometry helps to avoid unnecessary septal operations.