title: Numerical simulation of humidification and heating during inspiration in nose models with three different located septal perforations.
abstract: Nasal septum perforations (SP) are characterized by nasal obstruction, bleeding and crusting. The disturbed heating and humidification of the inhaled air are important factors, which cause these symptoms due to a disturbed airflow. Numerical simulations offer a great potential to avoid these limitations and to provide valid data. The aim of the study was to simulate the humidification and heating of the inhaled air in digital nose models with three different SPs and without SP. Four realistic bilateral nose models based on a multi-slice CT scan were created. The SP were located anterior caudal, anterior cranial and posterior caudal. One model was without SP. A numerical simulation was performed. Boundary conditions were based on previous in vivo measurements. Heating and humidification of the inhaled air were displayed, analyzed in each model and compared to each other. Anterior caudal SPs cause a disturbed decrease of temperature and humidity of the inhaled air. The reduced temperature and humidity values can still be shown in the posterior nose. The anterior cranial and the posterior caudal perforation have only a minor influence on heating and humidification. A reduced humidification and heating of the air can be shown by numerical simulations due to SP depending on their localization. The anterior caudal SP representing a typical localization after previous surgery has the biggest influence on heating and humidification. The results explain the typical symptoms such as crusting by drying-out the nasal mucosa. The size and the localization of the SP are essential for the symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of ORL, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Frauensteige 12, 89075, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lindemann
authors.affiliation: Department of ORL, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Frauensteige 12, 89075, Ulm, Germany. michael.reichert@uniklinik-ulm.de.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reichert
authors.affiliation: ANSYS Germany GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kröger
authors.affiliation: Department of ORL, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Frauensteige 12, 89075, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schuler
authors.affiliation: Department of ORL, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Frauensteige 12, 89075, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Department of ORL, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Frauensteige 12, 89075, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sommer
mesh_terms: D006361:Heating; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D061270:Nasal Septal Perforation / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D066230:Patient-Specific Modeling; D012119:Respiration; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Computational fluid dynamics; Humidification; Numerical simulation; Septal perforation; Temperature