title: Simulation of carbon dioxide insufflation via a diffuser in an open surgical wound model.
abstract: Flow within a model surgical opening during insufflation with heated carbon dioxide was studied using computational fluid dynamics. A volume of fluid method was used to simulate the mixture of ambient air and carbon dioxide gas. The negative buoyancy of the carbon dioxide caused it to fill the wound and form a protective layer on the internal surfaces for a range of flow rates, temperatures, and angles of patient inclination. It was observed that the flow remained attached to the surface of the model due to the action of the Coanda effect. A flow rate of 10 L/min was sufficient to maintain a warm carbon dioxide barrier for a moderately sized surgical incision for all likely angles of inclination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Science, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. Electronic address: john_cater@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cater
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Linden
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D007327:Insufflation / Q000379:methods*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011187:Posture; D013696:Temperature; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide
keywords: CO(2); Computational fluid dynamics; Insufflation; Surgical humidification