Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 79, Issue 2 547-553, Copyright © 1995 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Nasal pressure-volume relationships determined with acoustic rhinometry

J. Kesavanathan, D. L. Swift and R. Bascom
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore 21205, USA.

Partitioning of ventilation has been hypothesized to be related to nasal pressure-volume relationships, relationships that have been difficult to measure. Regional differences in nasal passage pressure-volume relationships are likely because the nasal valve and anterior turbinate are structurally different, but both are altered by agents that alter vascular tone. This study determined nasal volume-to-pressure ratio (NVPR) on six healthy nonsmoking subjects by measuring nasal volume by using acoustic rhinometry at pressures ranging between -14 and +14 cmH2O on 3 days: baseline, after intranasal decongestion (oxymetazoline), and congestion (histamine). NVPR was lower in the nasal valve (0.07 +/- 0.01 cm3/cmH2O) than in the anterior portion of the turbinates (0.29 +/- 0.05 cm3/cmH2O; P < 0.005). Oxymetazoline decongestion decreased NVPR in the nasal valve by 23% and NVPR in the anterior portion of the turbinates by 47%. Histamine did not alter NVPR at either site. Nasal resistance changes correlated with changes in nasal valve and anterior turbinate volume. In summary, regional differences in nasal pressure-volume relationships exist and changes occur with pharmacologically induced vascular decongestion.

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