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Numerical flow simulation in the post-endoscopic sinus surgery nasal cavity

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Abstract

In this study we utilized computational fluid dynamic (CFD) techniques to construct a numerical simulation of nasal cavity airflow pre and post virtual functional endoscopic surgery (FESS). A healthy subject was selected, and CFD techniques were then applied to construct an anatomically and proportionally accurate three-dimensional nasal model based on nasal CT scans. A virtual FESS intervention was performed numerically on the normal nasal model using Fluent software. Navier-Stokes and continuity equations were used to calculate and compare airflow, velocity, distribution and pressure in both the pre and post FESS models. In the post-FESS model, there was an increase in airflow distribution in the maxillary, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses, and a 13% increase through the area connecting the middle meatus and the surgically opened ethmoid. There was a gradual decrease in nasal resistance in the posterior ethmoid sinus region following FESS. These findings highlight the potential of this technique as a powerful preoperative assessment tool to aid clinical decision-making.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grant number 5010 from the Clinical Medicine Research board of Sun Yat-Sen University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Otolaryngology Hospital of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Otolaryngology Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 58 Zhongshan Road 2, 510080, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China

    Guanxia Xiong, Kejun Zuo & Geng Xu

  2. Department of Applied Mechanics and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510080, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China

    Jiemin Zhan, Jianfeng Li & Liangwan Rong

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  1. Guanxia Xiong
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  2. Jiemin Zhan
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  4. Jianfeng Li
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  5. Liangwan Rong
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  6. Geng Xu
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Correspondence to Geng Xu.

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Xiong, G., Zhan, J., Zuo, K. et al. Numerical flow simulation in the post-endoscopic sinus surgery nasal cavity. Med Biol Eng Comput 46, 1161–1167 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-008-0384-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-008-0384-1

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