SENSATION OF NASAL OBSTRUCTION COMPARED TO RHINOMANOMETRY IN PATIENTS REFERRED FOR SEPTOPLASTY AND IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC RHINITIS

Correlation between active anterior rhinomanometry and subjective sensation of nasal obstruction was studied in three groups of patients. Group A included patients with marked septal deviation causing high nasal resistance. Group B represented cases where there was minor septal deviation, but normal resistance. Group C consisted of cases with chronic rhinitis causing nasal stuffiness, but normal septum and normal decongestion resistance. The patient's response as to the more obstructed side of the nose was correlated with the rhinomanometrically recorded less patent nostril. The results show that the correlation was good in Group A, but did not exist in the other groups. The reason for this is that, when the side difference of resistance between the two nasal cavities was less than 60-70%, it was very difficult for the patient to estimate the more obstructed side. This was especially the case in Group C, where mucosal swelling often changes sides. The conclusion is that patients' capability to detect a minor side difference is poorer than rhinomanometry's. Furthermore, if rhinomanometry and subjective sensation do not agree, the reason may be that the patient's nasal complaint is dominated by the mucosal disease, rather than by a structural deformity and therefore, treatment other than surgery may be preferred.