Investigation of flow characteristics in regions of nasal polypoid change

Abstract We used computational fluid dynamics to study the airflow characteristics in the ostiomeatal complex/middle turbinate of the human upper airway, where clinically relevant nasal polypoid changes occur (designated Regions A1–A4). We assessed six different flow rates representing one full peri...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Computers in biology and medicine 2016-03, Vol.70, p.148-156
Main Authors: Chung, Seung-Kyu, Jo, Gyehwan, Na, Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Computational fluid dynamics simulation
Female
Humans
Internal Medicine
Male
Models, Biological
Nasal Mucosa - pathology
Nasal Mucosa - physiopathology
Nasal Polyps - pathology
Nasal Polyps - physiopathology
Nose
Ostiomeatal complex/middle turbinate
Other
Pathogenesis
Physiology
Pressure distribution
Pressure gradient
Respiratory Mechanics
Studies
Wall pressure
Wall shear stress
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Summary:Abstract We used computational fluid dynamics to study the airflow characteristics in the ostiomeatal complex/middle turbinate of the human upper airway, where clinically relevant nasal polypoid changes occur (designated Regions A1–A4). We assessed six different flow rates representing one full period of respiration, based on realistic human respiration data, in an anatomically correct numerical model of a patient with a history of polypectomy. The simulation results showed that Regions A1–A4 were not correlated with the local stagnation points where a locally high level of wall pressure was achieved. They, however, exhibited a very distinctive feature in that the positive wall-normal pressure gradients evaluated at the epithelial surface were persistent at six different flow rates spanning the whole respiration period in these areas. Therefore, the regions where polypoid changes developed were thought to be subject to mechanical irritation of the epithelium constantly via locally accelerating airflow moving towards the surface from the airway. On the contrary, relatively large or small values for local wall shear stress were not correlated with Regions A1–A4.
ISSN:0010-4825
1879-0534
DOI:10.1016/j.compbiomed.2016.01.011