title: Numerical simulation of intranasal air flow and temperature after resection of the turbinates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radical surgical resection of the turbinates leads to a reduced intranasal air conditioning. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of turbinate resection on intranasal heating and airflow patterns using a numerical simulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A bilateral model of the human nose with resection of the turbinates on one side based on a CT-scan was reconstructed. A numerical simulation applying the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver Fluent 6.1.22 was performed displaying inspiratory intranasal air temperature and airflow patterns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Due to resection of the turbinates the airflow pattern is disturbed resulting in a spacious vortex throughout the entire nasal cavity. Hence, contact between air and surrounding nasal wall is less intense. Consequently, intranasal heating of the inspired air is relevantly reduced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical resection of the turbinates leads to a disturbed intranasal air conditioning. The presented numerical simulation demonstrates the close relation between airflow patterns and heating.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany. joerg.lindemann@medizin.uni-ulm.de
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lindemann
authors.forename: Tilman
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Keck
authors.forename: Kerstin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Wiesmiller
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rettinger
authors.forename: Hans-Juergen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Brambs
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pless
mesh_terms: D001831:Body Temperature; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D014420:Turbinates / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*