Application of nasal decongestant spraying plus physical exercise in rhinologic examination for recruitment of pilots

Objective To study the feasibility of nasal decongestant spraying plus physical exercise in rhinologic examination for recruitment of pilots. Methods Three hundred and fifty-four candidates who underwent reexamination for recruitment of pilots in 2012 were divided into simple nasal decongestant spraying group（n=124）,simple physical exercise group（n=94）,and nasal decongestant spraying plus physical exercise group（n=136）.Candidates in simple nasal decongestant spraying group were sprayed with 1% ephedrine solution for 7 times and accepted first rhinologic examination after 5min and those received a second rhinologic examination after additional 5min if the diagnosis and conclusion were not made.The spraying of 1% ephedrine solution continued until the diagnosis and conclusion were made.Those in simple physical exercise group squatted 30 times within 30 seconds and accepted rhinologic examination after 2min,and those in nasal decongestant spraying plus physical exercise group squatted 30 times within 30 seconds after 1% ephedrine solution was sprayed for 5 times and received rhinologic examination after 2min and those squatted an additional 30 times within 30 seconds and received a second rhinologic examination if the diagnosis and conclusion were not made.Times for establishing the diagnosis and conclusion,and the number of candidates who received 1 time,2 times,3 times and more of examination were recorded. Results The diagnosis and conclusion rate was significantly higher in nasal decongestant spraying plus physical exercise group than in decongestant spraying group and simple physical exercise group after 1 time of examination（75% vs 63.71% and 34.04%,P＜0.05）.The diagnosis and conclusion rate was significantly lower in nasal decongestant spraying plus physical exercise group than in decongestant spraying group and simple physical exercise group after 3 or more times of examination（6.61% vs 20.97% and 37.23%,P＜0.05）. Conclusion Nasal decongestant spraying plus physical exercise can be used as a routine nasal mucosa contracting method in rhinologic examination for recruitment of pilots.