Effect of physiological saline aerosols on nasal mucociliary clearance

Abstract

Physiological saline aerosols were administered into the nasal cavity at a dose of 0.7 m/ for 2 minutes with a jet nebulizer. Nasal mucociliary clearance was determined by saccharin granule technique before and after the aerosol administration. Before the saline treatment, the control subjects showed the mucociliary clearance less than 30 minutes. No significant change was observed in the clearance between before and after the treatment. On the other hand, Saline aerosols significantly improved the reduced nasal mucociliary clearance in the patients with chronic sinusitis (p<0.01). The results were discussed in relation to possible mechanisms of slowing nasal mucociliary clearance in chronic sinusitis. © 1995, Society of Oto-rhino-laryngology Tokyo. All rights reserved.