Contents
Rhinomanometry is a method of examining a patient that allows you to determine the level of pressure in the nasal cavity, as well as the force of air passing through the nasal passages during exhalation.
The indicators that are obtained as a result of diagnostics make it possible to determine the presence or absence of various nasal pathologies (curvature of the nasal septum, the presence of polyps or other neoplasms in the paranasal sinuses, chronic inflammatory processes in the nose, etc.).
According to the results of rhinomanometry, the doctor determines whether the patient needs surgery or medication.
During the procedure, the doctor receives indicators that allow you to assess the condition of the patient’s nasal cavity. Most often, rhinomanometry is prescribed before a surgical intervention to determine the feasibility of the operation as accurately as possible.
What allows you to determine this type of diagnosis
If breathing is difficult, but with insignificant indicators, the doctor first selects conservative treatment, and only as a result of its ineffectiveness will surgical intervention be prescribed.
It should be understood that the procedure does not allow to determine the cause of difficult breathing as accurately as possible. The diagnostic result only demonstrates the level of obstruction of the nasal passages. Therefore, in parallel with rhinomanometry, other types of diagnostics are prescribed in order to determine the localization of the inflammatory process or neoplasm.
Indications and contraindications for the diagnostic procedure
The doctor prescribes a diagnostic procedure if the patient has some typical conditions. Among them, the formation of polyps in the nasal cavity (allows you to determine the level of proliferation of mucous membranes), tonsillitis or adenoiditis (the procedure allows you to determine the type of further treatment: surgical or medical), deviated nasal septum (if the pathology is not pronounced, the patient feels difficulty during breathing nose, but it practically does not interfere with him.
If the septum is severely curved, the patient can hardly breathe through the nose. This type of pathology is eliminated exclusively through surgical intervention, most often the disease occurs under the age of 25 years).
The list of indications for the procedure also includes chronic rhinitis of a viral or allergic type. The procedure is carried out in order to monitor the dynamics of the development of the disease, in other words, during the period of conservative treatment, rhinomanometry indicators demonstrate its effectiveness. Congenital anomalies or pathologies of the nasal passages, severe trauma to the nose, the presence of severe snoring during sleep, sleep apnea – all this also means that it is time for you to get rhinomanometry.
In the presence of difficulty breathing of any etiology, the doctor, in addition to a visual examination, prescribes additional ones, including rhinomanometry.
Among the advantages of the procedure, it is worth noting painlessness, safety (no drugs or devices that affect the body are used in the diagnostic process), accessibility (rhinomanometry is several times cheaper than CT and MRI diagnostics). But it should be understood that this diagnostic method does not allow to determine the type and localization of the pathology as accurately as possible. There are also contraindications for the procedure:
- bilateral absence of nasal breathing;
- children’s age up to 5 years (the child must be emotionally prepared for the procedure and have perseverance).
Method of conducting
The doctor asks the patient to sit on a couch or chair. For diagnostics, a rhinomanometer is used, which is connected to a computer. A stream of air is supplied through the device, the strength of which is controlled by a sensor. The computer receives data that is automatically converted into an electronic signal and lined up in an appropriate graph. The procedure does not require any special preparation. First, the patient is asked to thoroughly clean the nose. Sit comfortably and relax. Crossing legs and chest compressions are prohibited.
If the patient has an overwhelming fear of the procedure, the doctor may recommend taking a sedative.
During the diagnostic period, one nasal passage is closed with a special sterile disposable latex tip. After that, a special mask is put on the patient. An important point is that the tip closes exactly the nostril that will not be diagnosed at the moment.
At the signal of the doctor, the patient begins to breathe evenly. Interrupted breathing will give incorrect results. Breathing should be deep, cyclic, nasal. Mouth breathing interferes with the effectiveness of the procedure. Rhinomanometry is completely painless and does not cause any discomfort.
At the doctor’s signal, the patient stops breathing and carefully removes the mask. The second nasal passage is checked in the same way. The duration of checking one nasal passage is from one to two minutes.
The device works according to the following principle: the device records the volume of air that has passed through the tubes for a certain period of time. The program on the computer processes all the data and displays information on the monitor in the form of a graph.
Explanation of results
In a healthy person, approximately 500-800 centimeters of cubic air usually passes through the nasal cavities. If indicators are noted below the standard, this is an indirect indicator of the presence of any pathology. If you consult a doctor in a timely manner, any pathology can be eliminated quickly and without serious consequences.
The procedure is prescribed by an ENT doctor. It is worth noting that often the doctor can additionally prescribe the patient an allergist-immunologist, therapist, treatment room. Often plastic surgeons resort to this diagnosis before performing rhinoplasty in order to determine the degree of damage to the nose.