Possibilities of ultrasound examinations in assessing the blood supply to the nasal cavity

The purpose of the study. Study of the possibilities of ultrasound examinations (ultrasound) in assessing the blood supply of the nasal cavity in comparison with the parameters of hemodynamic parameters of the carotid arteries.

Material and methods. Ultrasound of the nasal septum (NS) and the Kisselbach–Little area (plexus) was performed in 98 patients (57 women and 41 men aged 18 to 55 years). Of these, 30 patients (18 women and 12 men) in the control group, 68 patients (39 women and 29 men) of the study group after interventions on the NS – septoplasty for perforations (56 patients) and curvatures of the NS (12 patients). Ultrasound scans were performed before and after plastic surgery on the NS. The studies were carried out on high-level and expert-level ultrasound devices, linear transducers with a frequency of 3–20 MHz, in B-mode and duplex scanning mode. The hemodynamic parameters of the carotid arteries were compared with the maximum indicators of the artery in the Kisselbach–Little area (AKA) and their relationship was studied.

Results. The relationship between the parameters of blood flow of the external carotid artery (ECA) and the internal carotid artery (ICA) with the AKA was studied. The analysis of correlations between the parameters of blood flow in the ECA and the AKA did not reveal any significant dependencies. The RI values also did not correlate with the velocity characteristics. There was no correlation between the velocity characteristics of blood flow in the ICA and the AKA. A correlation of the average strength between the values of RI in the AKA and V_max in the ICA was found (r = 0.430; p = 0.05). In the control group, the range of maximum blood flow velocity in the AKA was 15–35 cm/s, RI was from 0.5 to 0.59 units. A decrease in V_max less than 15 cm/s and an increase in Ri greater than 0.59 units are significantly associated with an increased risk of necrosis of the displaced endonasal flap and NS mucosa in the area of intervention.

Conclusion. No significant dependencies between the parameters of carotid artery blood flow and the AKA were revealed. In terms of predicting the survival rate of displaced endonasal flaps from the overlying parts during plastic surgery of the perforated opening of the NS and during septoplasty for NS curvatures, the parameters of the blood flow of the AKA are more important. The parameters of the blood flow of the AKA reflect the state of the arterial vessels of the overlying parts of the nasal cavity. 

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