Comprehensive assessment of the respiratory function of nasal packs with airway tubes

Abstract

We studied packs with air tubes from two manufacturers: Medtronic and Spiggle & Theis. During the experimental part, measurements of the air tubes and their study using acoustic rhinometry were carried out. In the clinical part, there were two groups of patients with different types of tampons and control group of volunteers with normal nasal breathing, the total number of participants was 45 people. All patients of groups 1 and 2 underwent septoplasty, bilateral lower partial conchotomy. In the postoperative period, rhinomanometry, rhinoflowmetry, a study of the duration of nasal breathing, and a subjective assessment of nasal breathing were performed. According to measurements and acoustic rhinometry, the airway tubes of the tampons have a cross-sectional area that is more than 4 times smaller than the narrowest part of the nasal cavity in healthy volunteers. According to the results of a clinical study, the tampons in question are not able to provide a level of nasal breathing comparable to normal, even after clearing the lumen by a doctor. Medtronic packs provide somewhat better airway function due to the larger internal diameter of the tubes, but also do not create conditions for satisfactory nasal breathing. Improving the respiratory function of tampons in the future can be achieved by increasing the internal lumen of the breathing tubes while maintaining comfort of use.