Nasal Resistance, Sensation of Obstruction, and Rhinoscopic Findings Compared

Abstract

Nasal resistances were measured by posterior rhinomanometry with a head-out body plethysmograph in 101 adult patients referred to our nasal airflow laboratory and were compared with both the patients’ sensations of nasal stuffiness and with rhinoscopic findings. Symptomatic grading of nasal stuffiness, which is a subjective perception, did not reveal a significant correlation with nasal resistances or with rhinoscopic findings; however, ipsilateral rhinoscopic grading and resistance values were directly related (p < 0.05) and application of Ohm's Law for parallel resistors to rhinoscopic grading also showed a direct relationship with measured total nasal resistance (p < 0.05). Pathologic conditions in the anterior nose and anterior septal deviation accompanied by a congested inferior turbinate were important determinants of obstruction.