The septal mucosa decongests with naphazoline: A study of mucosal dynamicswith sonography

A new method using B-mode and power-Doppler-mode (pD) sonography for the in vestigation of changes in nasal mucosa swelling and perfusion was developed . The effect of naphazoline (0,25 mg/mL) on the nasal mucosa was visualized and recorded in 1-minute intervals in 40 patients. The effect of normal sa line solution was studied in 27 healthy volunteers. The decongestant and no rmal saline were applied by flooding the anterior nasal cavity. A complete program automatically quantified pD color information. Normal saline soluti on induced a 4.8 +/-: 2.4% increase in perfusion (+/- SEM, n.s.) after 5 mi nutes. Irt the naphazoline group, changes in stereometry were measured on B -mode-sequences in 24 (60%) and perfusion changes in 24 participants (60%). in 16 of 40 patients (40%), both stereometry and perfusion were analyzed. After 10 minutes, the septum and inferior turbinate mucosa thickness were r educed by 17 +/- 2.8% (p < 0.001) and 25 +/- 2.6% (p < 0.001). Perfusion of the septum and inferior turbinate mucosa as visualized with pD-sonography decreased by 33 +/- 3.3% (p < 0.001). The reduction of bloodflow induced by naphazoline as visualized with pD-sonography is within the range of perfus ion changes found in LDF and Xenon clearance studies. Decongestion of the s eptum mucosa demonstrates erectile properties of the septum, which may cont ribute to the increase of nasal patency after nasal decongestion.