Nasal expiratory sound analysis in healthy people.

Objective: To evaluate the practicability of Odiosoft-Rhino (OR), a new experimental method for assessing the nasal airflow and resistance, in normal subjects and to compare the results with acoustic rhinometry (AR) findings.

Study Design And Setting: OR and AR were carried out in 72 healthy subjects. Their visual analogue scales of nasal obstruction, minimal cross sectional areas (MCA(1) and MCA(2)), and nasal expiration sounds were analyzed and noted for both nasal cavities.

Results: Statistically significant correlations (P < 0.05) were found between OR and AR in 2,000 to 4,000 Hz and 4,000 to 6,000 Hz with MCA(1) and MCA(2).

Conclusions: OR is a noninvasive and rapid test. It is easy to carry out and requires little patient cooperation. It seems that it may give compatible results with other reliable methods that assess nasal airflow.

Significance: We assume that OR is a sensitive method for evaluating nasal airflow in normal subjects in an easy way.

Ebm Rating: A-1b.