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Nasal Nitric Oxide and the Nasal Cycle
Author(s) -
Qian Wei,
Sabo Reni,
Ohm Mikael,
Haight James S. J.,
Fenton Ron S.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/00005537-200109000-00021
Subject(s) - nostril , nose , nasal cavity , medicine , anesthesia , nasal congestion , surgery
Objectives To establish the relationship between nasal patency and the nitric oxide (NO) concentration in the nasal airways. Methods Unilateral nasal NO concentration (n = 11) and inhaled nasal NO concentration at oropharynx (n = 9) were measured in healthy adult volunteers. Subjects breathed normally through the nose with a known resistance (ranged from none to total occlusion) placed in one nostril. In a subgroup (n = 7), the unilateral nasal NO concentrations were determined with nasal cavity congestion induced by lateral decubitus. Results When the added nasal resistance was less than 6 cm H 2 0 per liter per second, the peak NO concentrations in the nose remained below 80 parts per billion (ppb). Thereafter, the higher the resistance, the greater the NO concentration. It was up to 1109.7 ppb when the front nostril was totally occluded. There was no correlation between oropharyngeal NO concentrations and resistance in the front of the nose (r = 0.4). There was a significantly negative correlation between nasal cavity volumes and nasal NO concentrations (r = ‐0.8, P <.001). Conclusions Increases in nasal resistance to levels encountered in the nasal cycle and in recumbency augments the NO concentration within the obstructed side of the nose. Although that within the nose changes with patency, the NO concentration is constant down to the lower airways. The modulation role of the upper airways to the inhaled NO concentration remains unclear.