Spontaneous flow measurements of laryngotracheal resistance in 30 tracheostoma patients.

The airway resistance of 30 patients with stenosis in the region of the larynx and upper trachea was assessed by means of the spontaneous flow method. For this purpose, the measuring head of a spontaneous flow rhinomanometer (A 440 rhinomanometer, Allergopharma, Reinbek, FRG) was adapted to the new conditions. Laryngotracheal airway resistance between 1.8 and 30 mbar/l/s was registered. This method proved to be suitable for measuring the airway resistance of the larynx and upper trachea in tracheostoma patients with varying degrees of stenosis. Thus, a further objective parameter has been added to those of inspection and X-rays for reviewing the indications for tracheostoma closure.