Plast Reconstr Surg. 2000 May;105(6):1940-7.

    An evaluation of hard palate mucosa graft as a lining material in
alar reconstruction: a 7-year experience applied to the full-thickness
alar defect.

    Hatoko M, Tanaka A, Kuwahara M, Tada H, Imai K, Muramatsu T.

    Division of Plastic Surgery and Dermatology at Nara Medical
University, Kashihara, Japan. mhatoko@nmu-gw.naramed-u.ac.jp

    The authors present their experience with 25 hard palate mucosa
grafts used as lining material in the reconstruction of full-thickness
alar defects. Good "take" was obtained in 22 grafts; the other three
grafts incurred necrosis of the overriding skin flaps and postoperative
infection. Degree of shrinkage was 11 to 15 percent of grafted size in
patients with the type of defect that did not include the alar margin;
shrinkage was 26 to 35 percent in patients with the type that included
more than 50 percent of the alar margin. In all patients who had a good
graft take, the nasal cavities were maintained and there was no nasal
obstruction or collapsing during strong breathing. The healing time of
the palate donor site varied from 7 days to 5 weeks, depending on the
size of the defect. No patients experienced any symptoms at the donor
site after healing. The authors concluded that hard palate mucosa can be
considered a useful material in alar reconstruction because of the ease
in graft harvesting and its support features. When the defect is large
enough to involve the total unilateral ala nasi, even though the degree
of postoperative shrinkage is comparatively high, hard palate mucosa may
be the most suitable material to ensure good take of the graft and less
possibility of donor-site morbidity.
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Rhinology. 1988 Dec;26(4):289-92.
    Comment in:

        * Rhinology. 1989 Jun;27(2):136.

    Improvement of the nasal airflow by the nasal dilator Nozovent.

    Petruson B.

    Dept. of O.R.L., Sahlgrenska Hospital, University of Goteborg, Sweden.

    The lateral wall of the nostril is considered as the functional
unit in the regulation of the nasal resistance causing more than half of
the total resistance. In 16 test-subjects both nostrils were dilated
with a plastic nasal device, Nozovent, and the airflow through the nose
was measured with and without the device. In each object the mean value
of ten inspirations at 150 Pa was calculated. Before the application the
mean value of the subjects was 0.68 l/sec and with the device 0.84
l/sec. The improvement of airflow was comparable with that of treatment
with nose-drops. The device ought to be helpful in patients with or
without collapsing ala nasi during the night to increase nasal airflow
when sleeping.