Significance of acoustic rhinometry and rhinomanometry in the evaluation of submucous correction of nasal septum and submucous resection of inferior turbinate

Objective To discuss the significance of acoustic rhinometry and rhinomanometry （RM） in the evaluation of submucous correction of nasal septum and submucous resection of inferior turbinate,and the correlations between the subject symptoms and the object results by acoustic rhinometry and RM in patients before and after operation. Methods A prospective study was conducted in forty-eight patients with nasal septal deviation and/or inferior turbinate hypertrophy.The patients were treated by submucous correction of nasal septum and/or submucous resection of inferior turbinate according to the patients' conditions.Visual analogue scale （VAS） was used to estimate the degree of nasal obstruction.Acoustic rhinometry and RM were used to obtain the data of nasal inspiratory effective resistance （IER）,nasal expiratory effective resistance （EER）,0-5 cm nasal cavity volume （0-5 cm NCV）,nasal minimal cross-sectional area （NMCA） and distance of the minimal cross-sectional area to the nostril （DCAN）.The data were used to assess the airflow function of nasal cavity.Each patient was tested at the time both before and 4 weeks after surgery.The pre-and post operative data were used to calculate paired t-test by SPSS 17.0 and to disclose the Spearman rank correlation between VAS and IER,EER,0 - 5 cm NCV,NMCA and DCAN individually. Results The preoperative data showed that VAS was （3.44 ± 1.22）,nasal IER was （0.66 ±0.27）kPa · s · L-1,nasal EER was （0.68 ±0.29）kPa · s · L-1,0 -5 cm NCV was （3.98 ±1.30） cm3,NMCA was （0.37 ± 0.23） cm2 and DCAN was （2.42 ± 0.34） cm ; and the postoperative data showed thatVAS was （1.20 ±0.80）,nasal IER was （0.44 ±0.21） kPa · s · L-1,nasal EER was （0.46 ±0.23） kPa · s · L-1,0 -5 cm NCV was （4.85 ± 1.40） cm3,NMCA was （0.53 ±0.44） cm2 and DCAN was （2.25 ±0.49） cm.Significant differences existed in VAS,nasal IER,EER,0-5 cm NCV,NMCA and DCAN between pre-and post operative data （ t value were 9.163,4.995,4.508, -4.204,-2.203,2.924,all P < 0.05 ）.The correlation coefficient between VAS and IER,EER and 0 - 5 cm NMCA was 0.386,0.343 and -0.307,respectively （all P < 0.05 ）. Conclusion Both acoustic rhinometry and RM are appropriate methods to be used in the evaluation of submucous correction of nasal septum and submucous resection of inferior turbinate,however,the correlations between the subject symptoms and the object results by acoustic rhinometry and RM need further research. Key words: Rhinometry,acoustic; Rhinomanometry; Nasal obstruction; Treatment outcome