Computational Fluid and Particle Dynamics (CFPD): An Introduction - Computational Fluid and Particle Dynamics in the Human Respiratory System - page 16

Fig. 1.13 Contour plot of velocity magnitude on the coronal plane 6.2 cm from the tip of the external
nares with varying olfactory slits. a Narrowed olfactory slit. b Original airway model generated
from CT scans. c Widened olfactory slit. Total airway volume change in each of the modifications
< 5 %. (Figure taken from Zhao et al. 2004)

Fig. 1.14 Results taken from Garcia et al. (2007b) showing regions of the nasal mucosa where the
water flux per unit area exceeds 2 10 − 4 kg/(s m 2 ) for pre- and post-surgery of an atrophic nose

compared with a normal nose. Only the left cavity and the nasopharynx are shown

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In any case, the use of computational models is beneficial to complement the standard
rhinometric measurements because detailed changes in local airflow patterns, air
conditioning and odorant uptake ability are not captured by rhinometry. The many
advantages in using computational modeling as a tool for 'virtual surgery' include the
ability to explain the surgical procedure and its predicted outcome to the patient and
family members; better visualization which allows the doctors to be more confident
in planning the surgery; and evaluation of the potential physiological performance of
the nose based on the 'virtual surgery' which facilitates a more effective post-surgical
treatment plan.
This section provides two examples of pre- and post-op studies of the nose. Garcia
et al. (2007b) studied the air conditioning ability of a nose suffering from atrophic
rhinitis pre- and post-surgery. The results of water flux at the inner nasal walls in a
normal-, atropic pre-op, and atrophic post-op nose are shown in Fig. 1.14 . The results