Nasal airflow of patient with septal deviation and allergy rhinitis

Zi Fen Lim,Parvathy Rajendran,Chih Fang Lee,Muhamad Yusri Musa

doi:10.1186/s42492-021-00080-2

Abstract

A numerical simulation of a patient’s nasal airflow was developed via computational fluid dynamics. Accordingly, computerized tomography scans of a patient with septal deviation and allergic rhinitis were obtained. The three-dimensional (3D) nasal model was designed using InVesalius 3.0, which was then imported to (computer aided 3D interactive application) CATIA V5 for modification, and finally to analysis system (ANSYS) flow oriented logistics upgrade for enterprise networks (FLUENT) to obtain the numerical solution. The velocity contours of the cross-sectional area were analyzed on four main surfaces: the vestibule, nasal valve, middle turbinate, and nasopharynx. The pressure and velocity characteristics were assessed at both laminar and turbulent mass flow rates for both the standardized and the patient’s model nasal cavity. The developed model of the patient is approximately half the size of the standardized model; hence, its velocity was approximately two times more than that of the standardized model.

Highlights

The nasal cavity is one of the most critical parts of the human respiratory system [1,2,3]
Because nasal airflow is profoundly affected by the geometry of the flow passage, changes in the shape of the nasal cavity due to diseases or surgical treatments alter the nasal resistance and functions of the nose [32,33,34,35]
Geometric configuration plays a significant role in the flow distribution inside the nasal cavity, especially in disease cases, as the imbalance of the nasal cavity owing to septal deviation is considered to be a common etiology of nasal airway obstruction [4, 13, 16]

Summary

Introduction

The nasal cavity is one of the most critical parts of the human respiratory system [1,2,3]. Nasal obstructions, such as nasal septum deviations, enlarged turbinates, nasal polyps, enlarged adenoids, tumors, and nasal congestion, can trigger breathing difficulties. The front part of this natural partition is a firm but bendable structure, made mostly of cartilage and covered by skin with a substantial supply of blood vessels. It is slightly crooked in over 80% of people [6]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion