Assessment of nasal airway patency in pilots

Objective To measure the acoustic rhinometry（AR） and rhinomanometry（RM） in pilots and analyze their difference and relation. Methods Minimum cross-sectional area（MCA）,0-5cm and 2-5cm nasal volumes（V5,V2-5） were measured in 41 healthy using the AI rhinomanometer made in Britain GM Company.Unilateral and bilateral inspiration and expiration resistance and total nasal airway resistance（Rins150,Rexp150,Rins150T,Rexp150T）were measured when the pressure difference was at 150Pa. Results The right and left MCA was（0.63±0.20）cm² and（0.57±0.20）cm² respectively（mean（0.63±0.20）cm²）.The right and left V5 was（5.99±1.03）cm³ and（5.64±1.00）cm³ respectively（mean（5.99±1.03）cm²）.The right and left V2-5 was（4.30±0.97）cm³ and（3.96±0.92）cm³ respectively（mean（4.30±0.97）cm²）.The right and left Rins150 was（0.42±0.18）Pa/cm²·s and（0.38±0.18）Pa/cm²·s respectively（mean（0.42±0.18）Pa/cm²·s）. The right and left Rexp150 was（0.42±0.19）Pa/cm²·s and（0.38±0.19）Pa/cm²·s respectively（mean（0.42±0.19）Pa/cm²·s）.The Rins150T and Rexp150T were（0.20±0.08）Pa/cm²·s and（0.20±0.08）Pa/cm²·s respectively.No significant difference was found in Rins150,Rexp150,Rins150T,and Rexp150T.Rins150 and Rexp150 were negatively related with MCA,V5,and V2-5（P＜0.05）. Conclusion Nasal resistance is related with AR in pilots.Their measurement can provide evidence for the assessment of nasal airway patency in pilots.