Variation of pH and Electrolyte in Nasal Secretum

Lee, Kang Duk; Park, Hee Wan; Ban, Young Soo; Choi, Bong Nam; Park, Chan Youn

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Airway secretions partly arise from the interstitial fluid and partly from the secretory activities of respiratory epithelium and submucosal gland. The flow of water across the tracheobronchial epithelium is likely to be an important determinant of the efficiency of mucociliary clearance. Water movement across the epithelium is thought to follow active ion transport passively by means of the osmotic gradients created.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to determine whether Na, K, and Cl are transported actively by the epithelium of nasal mucosa and to evaluate an effect of the tracheostomy on changes of pH and electrolytes in nasal secretum.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
pH and Na, K, and Cl values were estimated in 35 samples (20 tracheostomized patients and 15 normal persons) of nasal secretum and plasma.
RESULTS
On 15 normal persons, Mean pH value was 7.43, Na 143.2, K 4.2 and Cl 109.1(mEq/L) in plasma and Mean pH value was 7.81, Na 139.7, K 11.5 and Cl 127.5(mEq/L) in nasal secretion. On 20 tracheostomized patients, pH 7.49, Na 140.2, K 3.8, and Cl 108.7(mEq/L) in plasma were estimated, and pH 7.88, Na 128.5, K 12.0, and Cl 121.5(mEq/L) were estimated in nasal secretum. In nasal secretum pH, K, and Cl were higher than in plasma by +0.39, +8.2 and +12.8(mEq/L) respectively, while Na was lower -11.6(mEq/L). We had the same result on normal persons as on tracheostomized patients. The results show that pH, K and Cl were higher in nasal secretion and Na was lower than in plasma.
CONCLUSION
Significant difference of pH and electrolyte values in nasal secretion was not observed between normal person and tracheostomized patient.