Abstract
ABSTRACT Deviant geometry of nasal channels results in significant changes to nasal aerodynamics that alter flow resistance, sensation, and the ability to filter aerosols. The invasive, operative modification of nasal geometry might alter the intranasal flow patterns, and this must be considered in advance at the stage of surgical planning. The present work describes flow patterns, reproduced numerically for several nasal geometries. This includes the reference channel geometry without physiological modifications. Making use of the commercial CFD-package STAR-CCM+, we document a down to 51% reduction and up to a 280% increase in nasal flow resistance for enlarged and obstructed channel geometries. The study on particle deposition revealed an only 18% deposition efficiency for the enlarged nasal cavities, while this parameter was up to 58% for the normal and obstructed geometries.
Highlights
There are numerous factors that can lead to an obstruction of nasal cavities, and if the obstruction complicates breathing, the cavities might be subjected to invasive surgical expansion
This study aims to present flow patterns in the nasal cavity using the CFD software STAR-CCM+ on five segmented CT-based geometries
This study aims at studying flow patterns in the nasal cavity and comparing nasal aerodynamics during inhalation and exhalation
Summary
There are numerous factors that can lead to an obstruction of nasal cavities, and if the obstruction complicates breathing, the cavities might be subjected to invasive surgical expansion. Turbinate reduction and septoplasty are surgeries used to correct a deviated septum. These are typically routine surgeries used to improve breathing problems such as sleep apnea and abnormal airflow, but in some rare cases, patients have reported worsened breathing after their nasal passages were opened up with such a surgical procedure. Other physical symptoms and even psychological symptoms might emerge, decreasing the patient’s overall quality of life. One such condition is called ‘empty nose syndrome’ (ENS). The precise pathogenesis of ENS is poorly understood, but altered nasal aerodynamics are often suspected to be a major contributing factor (Balakin et al, 2017)
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