The Permeability of the Maxillary Ostium

Abstract

Simultaneous recordings of the nasal and antral pressures were performed during breathing, sniffing and nose-blowing at 164 antral punctures in 100 patients. Various disturbances in the permeability of the maxillary ostium are described. Model experiments show that the amplitude of the antral respiratory fluctuations is smaller than that of the nasal in the presence of a partial ostial obstruction or with fluid in the ostium or sinus. The ostial resistance can be calculated from the recordings when the ostium opens during sniffing or blowing and when it acts as a valve. A residual positive or negative antral pressure is obtained with a valve-functioning ostium on blowing or sniffing.

In chronic sinusitis the ostium resisted the pressures at every puncture during blowing and sniffing. Recordings in acute sinusitis with relatively profuse antral secretion usually gave similar results, while better ostial permeability was sometimes found in the recovery stage.