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Normal nasal patency: problems in obtaining standard reference values for the surgeon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2012

M Moore  and
R Eccles
M Moore*
Affiliation:
Common Cold Centre, Cardiff University, Wales, UK
R Eccles
Affiliation:
Common Cold Centre, Cardiff University, Wales, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Matthew Moore, ENT Research Fellow, Common Cold Centre, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, Wales, UK Fax: +44 (0)29 20 874093 E-mail: matthew.moore@doctors.org.uk
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Abstract

This review examines why there is no normal range of nasal patency available to the surgeon when assessing nasal obstruction, and discusses the factors that influence nasal patency. Current normal ranges are examined and criticised because of the variability of normal values and the poor sampling methods used. Instability of physiological nasal patency is related to factors such as the nasal cycle and the nose's direct exposure to the external environment. Decongestion of the nose is proposed as a way of stabilising anatomical nasal patency, and measurements of patency in this state may be more useful to the surgeon. Population studies are needed to establish a normal range, but these studies must control for factors such as age, height, sex, and nasal shape and size related to climatic adaptation. Rather than classify populations according to unscientific categories such as race, anthropometric measures such as the nasal index are proposed.

Keywords

Nasal ObstructionNasal IndexNasal PatencyRhinologyRaceNasal Cycle
Type
Review Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 126 , Issue 6 , June 2012 , pp. 563 - 569
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2012

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