Numerical simulation of intranasal airflow after radical sinus surgery

Radical sinus surgery disturbs intranasal humidification and heating of inspired air, resulting in reduced air conditioning mainly caused by a disturbed airflow. Therefore, the aim of this study was to simulate the intranasal airflow after radical sinus surgery during inspiration by means of numerical simulation.

A bilateral model of the human nose with maxillectomy, ethmoidectomy, and resection of the lateral nasal wall and the turbinates on one side based on a multislice computed tomographic scan was reconstructed. An unsteady numerical simulation displaying the intranasal airflow patterns applying the computational fluid dynamics solver Fluent 6.1.22 was performed.

Spacious vortices throughout the entire nasal cavity and the paranasal sinuses caused by the radical resections occurred, causing a less-intense contact between air and the surrounding nasal wall. An enlargement of the nasal cavity volume and a reduction of the nasal surface area in ratio to the nasal cavity volume could be observed.

Aggressive sinus surgery leads to disturbed intranasal air conditioning caused by disturbed intranasal airflow patterns and a reduction of the surface area in relation to the nasal volume. The presented numerical simulation demonstrates the close relation between air conditioning and intranasal airflow. It can be helpful to understand and interpret in vivo measured data of intranasal temperature and humidity.