title: Investigation on the nasal airflow characteristics of anterior nasal cavity stenosis.
abstract: We used a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model to study the inspiratory airflow profiles of patients with anterior nasal cavity stenosis who underwent curative surgery, by comparing pre- and postoperative airflow characteristics. Twenty patients with severe anterior nasal cavity stenosis, including one case of bilateral stenosis, underwent computed tomography (CT) scans for CFD modelling. The pre- and postoperative airflow characteristics of the nasal cavity were simulated and analyzed. The narrowest area of the nasal cavity in all 20 patients was located within the nasal valve area, and the mean cross-sectional area increased from 0.39 cm2 preoperative to 0.78 cm2 postoperative (P<0.01). Meanwhile, the mean airflow velocity in the nasal valve area decreased from 6.19 m/s to 2.88 m/s (P<0.01). Surgical restoration of the nasal symmetry in the bilateral nasal cavity reduced nasal resistance in the narrow sides from 0.24 Pa.s/mL to 0.11 Pa.s/mL (P<0.01). Numerical simulation of the nasal cavity in patients with anterior nasal cavity stenosis revealed structural changes and the resultant patterns of nasal airflow. Surgery achieved balanced bilateral nasal ventilation and decreased nasal resistance in the narrow region of the nasal cavity. The correction of nasal valve stenosis is not only indispensable for reducing nasal resistance, but also the key to obtain satisfactory curative effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology*