1. The effect of inferior turbinate hypertrophy on nasal spray distribution to the middle meatus.
- Author
-
Dowley AC and Homer JJ
- Subjects
- Administration, Intranasal, Cross-Over Studies, Humans, Hypertrophy, Nasal Obstruction physiopathology, Pulmonary Ventilation, Rhinitis complications, Rhinitis physiopathology, Aerosols pharmacokinetics, Nasal Cavity metabolism, Nasal Decongestants pharmacokinetics, Nasal Obstruction metabolism, Oxymetazoline pharmacokinetics, Rhinitis metabolism, Turbinates pathology
- Abstract
The distribution of topical nasal sprays is suboptimal, the main obstruction to adequate delivery in normal volunteers being the nasal valve. We aimed to test the hypothesis that, in patients with rhino-sinusitis, hypertrophy of the inferior turbinate also limits the distribution of administered drug to the middle meatus. We modelled the effect of inferior turbinate hypertrophy and reduction by effecting congestion (by ipsilateral isometric exercise) and decongestion (topical oxymetazoline) in normal volunteers. The method chosen to estimate drug delivery to the middle meatus used endoscopic photography after the administration of dyed aqueous spray. A randomized cross-over study design was used and 20 nasal cavities were studied. The congestion/decongestion manoeuvres significantly altered nasal airflow, as measured by peak inspiratory nasal flow (P < 0.001). Congestion diminished significantly drug delivery to the middle meatus, as compared with decongestion (P = 0.026). This may support a clinical role for inferior turbinate reduction to improve the efficacy of topical nasal therapy, as well as improving nasal airflow.
- Published
- 2001
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