Detection of particles within the nasal airways before and after nasal decongestion

Cleansing of the air is one of the most important functions of the nose. Th e aim of this investigation was to determine the influence of decongestion of the nasal mucosa with xylometazoline on the intranasal particle depositi on at different sites of the nasal cavity. During respiration of an aerosol of starch particles, the non-deposited particles in the air were laseropti cally detected in 10 healthy Volunteers by a transnasally placed suction pr obe at different locations within the nasal cavity. The anterior nasal segm ent was the main area of intranasal particle deposition before and after de congestion of the nasal mucosa. Particle deposition after nasal decongestio n was not significantly different from the values before application of xyl ometazoline. Decongestion of the nasal mucosa and increase in nasal cavity diameter seems not to influence particle deposition of inhaled and exhaled air within a short period after onset of the maximal decongestive effect of xylometazoline.