The effect of esophageal pressure monitoring on nasal airway resistance

OBJECTIVE: Artificial obstruction of nasal airflow has been shown to increa se the amount of apneas and arousals. An esophageal catheter inserted throu gh the nasal cavity is used in sleep studies to show intrathoracic pressure variations as sign of obstructive apneas and increased respiratory resista nce. This study evaluates the effect of transnasal esophageal catheter on n asal airflow. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Fifty patients with problem snoring referred to o ur ENT clinic underwent overnight limited sleep study with an esophageal ca theter. Nasal airway resistance was measured the following morning with act ive anterior rhinomanometry. After exclusion of 17 measurements, the result s of 33 patients were compared with same parameters obtained earlier withou t nasal manipulation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The ipsilateral nasal resistance was clearly elevat ed when measured with a catheter used overnight compared with the control m easurement (P < 0.05). However, the combined nasal resistance was not signi ficantly increased in this material with patent nasal airways. In patients with already compromised nasal airflow, the possibility of clinically relev ant changes in nasal airflow during catheter use should be taken in account .