Objective: To review the main papers published on the main available tests to obtain objective values of nasal patency and to demonstrate aspects of their use in medical practice.
Methodology: We performed a non-systematic review of the MEDLINE and LILACS databases, and the most relevant articles were selected.
Results: Objective evaluations are important in epidemiological studies and in monitoring of patients with nasal obstruction. There is a wide variety of objective tests of nasal function; among them acoustic rhinometry, rhinomanometry, and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) are currently the most used tests.
Conclusion: The choice of the method to evaluate nasal function depends on the conditions of each health service. PNIF has been highlighted as a simple and reliable alternative that provides easy-to-interpret results, and is thus an attractive method for clinical practice.