Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T22:56:48.787Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Comparing the effectiveness of nasal dilator strips: does race play a role?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 November 2014

A W Kam ,
E Pratt  and
R J Harvey
A W Kam*
Affiliation:
St. Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Rhinology and Skull Base Research Group, St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
E Pratt
Affiliation:
Rhinology and Skull Base Research Group, St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, Australia Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
R J Harvey
Affiliation:
St. Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Rhinology and Skull Base Research Group, St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, Australia Australian School of Advanced Medicine, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Andrew Kam, St. Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Level 5, deLacy Building, St. Vincent's Hospital, Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia Fax: +61 2 9283 3411 E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background:

Nasal dilator strips are thought to widen and stiffen the anterior nasal cavity, and thus improve symptoms of nasal obstruction. It is postulated that anthropomorphic differences in external nasal proportions between races may influence the effectiveness of such dilator strips.

Methods:

Caucasian and Asian subjects were compared. Nasal peak inspiratory flow, nasal airway resistance, minimum cross-sectional area and visual analogue scale measurements of nasal obstruction were recorded at baseline and following the application of two different dilator strips.

Results:

Nine Caucasian and six Asian subjects were recruited (n = 15). There was a significant difference between races in terms of nasal peak inspiratory flow improvements following nasal strip application (mean of 29.4 litres per minute in Caucasians vs 14.6 litres per minute in Asians; p = 0.04). Only Caucasians experienced a significant decrease in nasal airway resistance (median of 0.12 Pa/cm3/s; p < 0.01).

Conclusion:

Nasal peak inspiratory flow, minimum cross-sectional area and visual analogue scale values improved from baseline with strip application in both populations. Only Caucasians experienced significant nasal airway resistance improvement with strip application. Both cohorts experienced nasal peak inspiratory flow improvement, with Caucasians experiencing a significantly larger improvement.

Keywords

AdultAirway ResistanceAnthropometryDilatationEthnic GroupsHumansNasal CavityNasal Obstruction
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 129 , Issue S1 , January 2015 , pp. S51 - S56
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Lindemann, J, Tsakiropoulou, E, Keck, T, Leiacker, R, Vital, V, Wiesmiller, KM. Impact of external nasal strips on nasal geometry and intranasal air-conditioning. Am J Rhinol 2008;22:506–10CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2Ellegard, E. Mechanical nasal alar dilators. Rhinology 2006;44:239–48Google Scholar
3Tarabichi, M, Fanous, N. Finite element analysis of airflow in the nasal valve. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1993;119:638–42Google Scholar
4Roithmann, R, Chapnik, J, Zamel, N, Barreto, SM, Cole, P. Acoustic rhinometric assessment of the nasal valve. Am J Rhinol 1997;11:379–85Google Scholar
5Griffin, JW, Hunter, G, Ferguson, D, Sillers, MJ. Physiologic effects of an external nasal dilator. Laryngoscope 1997;107:1235–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Gosepath, J, Mann, WJ, Amedee, RG. Effects of the Breathe Right nasal strips on nasal ventilation. Am J Rhinol 1997;11:399–402CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7Kirkness, JP, Wheatley, JR, Amis, TC. Nasal airflow dynamics: mechanisms and responses associated with an external nasal dilator strip. Eur Respir J 2000;15:929–36Google Scholar
8Ng, BA, Mamikoglu, B, Ahmed, MS, Corey, JP. The effect of external nasal dilators as measured by acoustic rhinometry. Ear Nose Throat J 1998;77:840–4Google Scholar
9Latte, J, Taverner, D. Opening the nasal valve with external dilators reduces congestive symptoms in normal subjects. Am J Rhinol 2005;19:215–19CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10Peltonen, LI, Vento, SI, Simola, M, Malmberg, H. Effects of the nasal strip and dilator on nasal breathing--a study with healthy subjects. Rhinology 2004;42:122–5Google ScholarPubMed
11Burres, SA. Acoustic rhinometry of the oriental nose. Am J Rhinol 1999;13:407–10CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12Portugal, LG, Mehta, RH, Smith, BE, Sabnani, JB, Matava, MJ. Objective assessment of the breathe-right device during exercise in adult males. Am J Rhinol 1997;11:393–7Google Scholar
13Timperley, D, Stow, N, Srubiski, A, Harvey, R, Marcells, G. Functional outcomes of structured nasal tip refinement. Arch Facial Plast Surg 2010;12:298–304CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Jones, AS, Viani, L, Phillips, D, Charters, P. The objective assessment of nasal patency. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci 1991;16:206–11Google Scholar
15GM instruments. Rhinomanometer NR6: User Manual and Installation Notes V10. In: http://gm-instruments.com/WebRoot/Daily/Shops/eshop950940/MediaGallery/Documents/Nr6_User_Manual.pdf [17 October 2014]Google Scholar
16Leong, SC, Eccles, R. A systematic review of the nasal index and the significance of the shape and size of the nose in rhinology. Clin Otolaryngol 2009;34:191–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17Ohki, M, Naito, K, Cole, P. Dimensions and resistances of the human nose: racial differences. Laryngoscope 1991;101:276–8Google Scholar
18Timperley, D, Srubisky, A, Stow, N, Marcells, GN, Harvey, RJ. Minimal clinically important differences in nasal peak inspiratory flow. Rhinology 2011;49:37–40Google Scholar
19Halliday, D, Resnick, R, Walker, J. Fundamentals of Physics, 10th edn. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2013Google Scholar
20Preedly, VR. Handbook of Anthropometry: Physical Measures of Human Form in Health and Disease. New York: Springer, 2012Google Scholar
21Park, C, Kim, I, Hong, S, Lee, J. Revision rhinoplasty of Asian noses: analysis and treatment. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2009;135:146–55Google Scholar
22Graamans, K. Rhinometry. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci 1981;6:291–7Google Scholar