The nasal airway serves as the primary conduit for
20 inspired air to reach the lower respiratory tract.
21 Different anatomic factors may contribute to the
22 subjective sensation of decreased nasal airflow. It is
23 difficult to assess the relative importance of individual
24 factors contributing to nasal obstruction and to decide
25 on the therapy most likely to be effective in restoring
26 satisfactory nasal breathing [1]. The internal nasal valve
27 constitutes the bottle neck of the nose. It is responsible
28 for almost half of the total airway resistance [2].
29
30 Nasal breathing impairment occurs if the nasal valve area
30 is constricted by any pathology such as hypertrophy of
32 the inferior turbinate, septal deviations, bony
33 constrictions of the pyriform aperture, anatomic
34 variations of the cartilaginous lateral nasal wall, or
35 scarred stenosis of the nasal valve [3].