Assessment of nasal airway patency during pregnancy and postpartum period: correlation between subjective and objective techniques.

Abstract

This study aims to determine the physiological changes in a pregnant woman's nasal airway, the frequency of pregnancy rhinitis, and the correlation among anterior rhinoscopy (AnR), anterior rhinomanometry (ARM), and subjective nasal obstruction score as she progresses through pregnancy into the postpartum period (PPP). Twenty non-smoking healthy pregnant women aged 19-35 (average 27.5±4.7) without a history of either respiratory allergy or chronic nasal or sinus problems were included in the study. Detailed history taking, AnR, and ARM were performed by the same ear nose and throat specialist at each trimester and postpartum second week. From then on, the participants scored, subjectively, morning levels of nasal obstruction (0= none, 1= slight, 2= moderate, 3= severe, 4= total obstruction). The AnR scores were low and the ARM findings were in normal range in the first trimester. Increasing AnR scores through pregnancy and decreasing AnR scores at PPP were statistically significant. Similarly, the ARM findings increased through pregnancy and decreased to normal levels at PPP; however, these changes among trimesters and PPP were not statistically significant. Anterior rhinomanometry and AnR are useful tools in the determination of nasal physiological changes as pregnancy progresses to PPP.