[Clinical use of nasal airflow measurement in septoplasty].

OBJECTIVE

To discuss the clinical use of nasal airflow measurement in septoplasty.

METHOD

After nasal decongestion, 21 patients's nasal airway resistance and nasal airflow were evaluated by anterior rhinomanometry before and after submucous resection of nasal septum.

RESULT

The amount of nasal airflow asymmetry could show nasal respiratory function better than nasal airway resistance does, the patients with absolute amount of nasal airflow asymmetry greater than 50% had bad postoperative outcome, patients' satisfication with operation was significantly correlated with the presence of post-operative symmetrical nasal airflow.

CONCLUSION

The amount of nasal airflow asymmetry can serve as an indicator of patient selection, outcome evaluation and prognosis in nasal septum deviation.