Nasal Breathing Assessment Using Computational Fluid Dynamics: An Update from the Rhinologic Perspective

Area of Science:

• Rhinology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Computational Science

Background:

• Objective assessment of nasal breathing remains a significant clinical challenge.
• Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is emerging as a promising tool for nasal airflow analysis.
• Current CFD frameworks for nasal breathing assessment lack standardization and widespread clinical acceptance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore key aspects critical for the future development of CFD in rhinology.
• To discuss potential pathways for the clinical implementation of CFD in nasal breathing assessment.
• To highlight areas needing standardization for reliable CFD application in clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• Review and analysis of existing computational fluid dynamics frameworks for nasal airflow.
• Identification of critical parameters and methodologies for CFD model development.
• Discussion of challenges and opportunities for clinical translation.

Main Results:

• Significant variability exists in current CFD methodologies for nasal breathing.
• There is a lack of a universally accepted clinical protocol for CFD application.
• Several crucial aspects require further development for robust clinical integration.

Conclusions:

• Computational fluid dynamics holds potential for objective nasal breathing assessment.
• Standardization of CFD frameworks and validation are essential for clinical adoption in rhinology.
• Further research and development are needed to bridge the gap between CFD research and clinical practice.