Posterior packs and the nasopulmonary reflex.

摘要: Increased mortality and arterial hypoxemia have long been associated with posterior nasal packs placed for control of severe epistaxis. Several authors postulated a nasopulmonary reflex to partially explain this clinically observed phenomenon. In ten young, healthy subjects, using multiparameter pulmonary evaluation, were no significant changes in lung volumes, flow, alveolar gas exchange, especially oxygenation. These findings suggest that aspiration, sedation, degeneration function age, not reflex, adequately emphasized previously performed studies.