Abstract
We measured nasal resistance, nasal peak expiratory flow (PEF), nasal one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV 1.0), nasal one-second forced expiratory volume rate (FEV 1.0%) and nasal blockage index (NBI), and evaluated usefulness of these parameters in assessing nasal obstruction. In addition, reliability of a portable peak flow meter was discussed, especially in its continual use.
Before and after nasal mucosa was shrunk orswelled by administering some medicine into the nostrils, the change and the correlation of these parameters were investigated. Reliability of a portable peak flow meter was examined in the next.
The nasal resistance as measured by a rhinomanometer did not change significantly in any medicine challenge, but PEF, FEV 1.0, FEV 1.0%, and NBI changed in all medicine challenges. The nasal resistance and PEF or NBI weakly correlated with each other, and the correlation was statistically significant. The portable peak flow meter seemed to be reliable.
PEF, FEV 1.0, and FEV 1.0% were useful as means of assessing nasal obstruction, and PEF was the most proper among them because it was easy to measure. It appeared that the portable peak flow meter can be used for continual evaluation of nasal obstruction.
