The use of cold nasal packs on the nose and nape of the neck is currently recommended for patients with epistaxis as this is thought to induce reflex nasal vasoconstriction, which decreases the bleeding. There have been a few investigations on the effect of cold compress application to the nose, but none of these focused specifically on nasal cooling of the skin of the nose.

Acoustic rhinometry was performed to obtain baseline measurements. Nasal dorsal skin was then cooled with two ice packs that were held on the left and right side of the nose for a total of 10 minutes by the subjects. The rhinometry measurements were taken at the time of initial application (baseline), and after 5 and 10 minutes of ice pack application.

Comparisons of the first and second minimal cross-sectional area values, and total nasal cavity volume measurements revealed no statistical differences.

The results of this study indicate that one should be sceptical about the efficiency of cold compress application, which is frequently used in clinical practice in cases with epistaxis.

The reliability of nasal obstruction measurements could be improved, and several new techniques are being developed. Our objective was to investigate the use of a new software program, Odiosoft-Rhino, in the assessment of nasal obstruction via analysis of the sounds of nasal expiration.

We compared the nasal symptom scores and Odiosoft-Rhino and acoustic rhinometry test results for 61 patients with known nasal septal deviation.

We found a significant difference, and a correlation, between Odiosoft-Rhino results at 2000–4000 Hz and 4000–6000 Hz intervals, and the minimal cross-sectional area 2.2 cm from the nostril, in the right nasal cavity in patients with right-sided deviations. Similar results were observed for the left nasal cavity in patients with left-sided deviations.

The Odiosoft-Rhino software test is noninvasive, requires minimal cooperation and experience, and provides results that can be saved as digital data. Additionally, data from the Odiosoft-Rhino test are strongly correlated with acoustic rhinometry results and visual analogue scores of nasal obstruction. It seems that sound intensity within the 2000–4000 Hz and 4000–6000 Hz intervals is more sensitive than other sound intensity intervals. Thus, we speculate that Odiosoft-Rhino testing could be used as a new diagnostic method in order to evaluate nasal airflow in clinical practice.