Objective and subjective nasal airflow

Purpose: This study was designed to assess whether a correlation exists between the rhinomanometric measurement of nasal resistance, nasal airflow, and the subjective sensation of airflow. Materials and Methods: Sixteen patients with recurrent maxillary sinusitis were examined before and after uncinectomy during functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Subjective nasal sensation of airflow was assessed by means of a visual scale before and after uncinectomy. Rhinomanometry was performed three times for every patient: before anesthesia, and before and after uncinectomy. The subjective nasal sensation of airflow was compared with the nasal airflow and resistance to flow as measured by rhinomanometry. Results: Rhinomanometric measurements were almost the same before and after uncinectomy, with no significant difference, whereas patients reported a significant improvement in nasal airflow. Conclusion: Rhinomanometric measurements of nasal airflow and resistance often have no correlation to the patient's sensation of airflow. However, because it is the patients' ultimate concern to breathe more comfortably, the rhinomanometer has little clinical value.