Novel technique measures internal nasal valve surface area

(HealthDay)—Endoscopic suction-assisted evaluation of the internal nasal valve can measure internal nasal valve area and function, according to a study published online Jan. 14 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.

James C. Marotta, M.D., from Marotta Facial Plastic Surgery, and Kyeesha Becoats, M.D., from Stony Brooke University—both in Smithtown, N.Y., examined whether intraoperative endoscopic suction-assisted evaluation of the internal nasal valve is useful for assessing internal nasal valve area and function. Twenty patients undergoing cosmetic and functional septorhinoplasty were enrolled; seven underwent follow-up at three years. The internal nasal valve was photographed endoscopically with and without suction preoperatively, postoperatively, and at three-year follow-up.

The researchers found that there was no difference in the observed static surface area of the internal nasal valve on comparison of preoperative and postoperative values (P = 0.58). Comparing preoperative and immediate postoperative values, there was no difference in the observed surface area of the internal nasal valve under negative pressure (P = 0.97). When exposed to negative sniff pressures, the surface area of the internal nasal valve was increased by 45 percent during the three-year follow-up (P = 0.03). Under negative pressure, the surface area measured a mean of 47,683 square pixels preoperatively and 85,612 square pixels at the three-year follow-up.

"The study outlines a novel technique for measuring internal nasal valve surface area and compliance preoperatively and postoperatively," the authors write.

Copyright © 2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved.