Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 44, Issue 6 964-968, Copyright © 1978 by American Physiological Society
A roentgenographic method for measuring nasal mucous velocity
B. M. Yergin, K. Saketkhoo, E. D. Michaelson, S. M. Serafini, K. Kovitz and M. A. Sackner
Nasal mucous velocity was estimated by following the motion of radiopaque
discs of Teflon by means of a fluoroscopic image intensifier. From 5 to 10
discs were deposited on the superior surface of the inferior turbinate with
a forceps. No local anesthesia was employed and the subjects experienced no
discomfort. The linear velocity of the discs was obtained by playing the
videotape onto a television monitor, measuring distance with a ruler, and
dividing by elapsed time. Duplicate runs of 1-2 min, 15 min apart were very
reproducible but runs at 4-h intervals or daily over a 5-day period had a
coefficient of variation of 30%. Average nasal velocity for individual
ranged from 0 to 22.5 mm/min and group means ranged from 6. 8 to 10.8
mm/min. There was no statistically significant difference in nasal mucous
velocity between young and elderly subjects nor was there a sexual
difference. The saccharin test of nasal mucous transport was unsatisfactory
because of inability to repeat the test more often than 1-2 h and its
propensity to produce mild discomfort in a significant number of subjects.
Saccharin times did not correlate significantly with values of nasal mucous
velocity.
