Abstract: Objective To find out the correlation between the measurement of four-phase rhinomanometry and subjective symptom of nasal obstruction, and the relation between nasal septum deviation(NSD)and the measurement result of the four-phase rhinomanometry as well as the acoustic rhinometry. Methods Group1 of subjects: patient suffering from nasal obstruction caused by the septum deviation: including 25 male nasal cavities and 5 female nasal cavities. Group2: normal subjects including 14 men(28 nasal cavities) and 3 women(6 nasal cavities). Group3: Asymptomatic subjects with septum deviation including 21 men and 4 women cavities. HRR2 four-phase rhinomanometer and eccovision acoustic rhinometer were used to acquire the the effective resistances and vertex resistance in inspiration and expiration process(Reffin, Reffex, VRin, VRex), nasal cavity volume of 0~1 cm, 1~2 cm, 2~5 cm, 5~7 cm from nostril(V₁, V_1-2, V_2-5 and V_5-7), minimum cross-sectional area(MCA ) and the distance between the nostril to minimum cross-sectional area( MD)of each nasal cavity. Results The VAS of subjective obstruction symptom has no significant correlation to the results of the four-phase rhinomanometry and the acoustic rhinometry except V_2-5. In Group1, the Reffin, Reffex, VRin and VRex are significantly correlated with V_1-2, V_2-5, V_5-7 and MCA except V1. For the Reffin, Reffex, VRin and VRex, the difference between Group1 and Group 2, and Group1 and Group3 were statistically significant, however, no statistic significance between Group2 and Group3 were found. There was no significant statistic difference in V₁, V_1-2 and MCA between Group 1 and Group2, and Group1 and Group3, however, there were significant statistic difference in V_2-5, V_5-7 and MD. There was no significant statistic difference in V₁, V_1-2, V_2-5, V_5-7, MCA and MD between Group2 and Group3. Moreover, the MD of Group 1 apparently backward shifts comparing with the other two Groups, near the 2 cm from nostril. The measurement results by the four-phase rhinomanometry and the acoustic rhinometry on the NSD patient with the nasal obstruction symptom have a significant correlation. The combination of the two methods can reflect the influence from the geometrical variance of the nasal cavity on the nasal airflow. Conclusion The Reffin, Reffex, VRin and VRex of the pure NSD patient with the nasal obstruction symptom are significant higher than the normal group and the asymptomatic NSD group.

Key words: Four-phase rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinometry, nasal septum deviation, nose