Alterations in nasal airflow and air conditioning after endoscopic nasopharyngectomy for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a pilot computational fluid dynamics study.
Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin
; : 1-14, 2024 Sep 25.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39323204
ABSTRACT
Endoscopic nasopharyngectomy represents a significant intervention for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Various surgical techniques, including transnasal and transoral approaches, are employed. However, the impact of these procedures on nasal airflow dynamics is not well understood. This computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study aimed to investigate alterations in nasal airflow and air conditioning following endoscopic nasopharyngectomy. A 55-year-old male patient with recurrent NPC was selected, whose CT data were utilized for image reconstruction. A preoperative model and two postoperative models, including the transnasal and transoral approach models, were established. The airflow patterns and various CFD parameters were analyzed. In the postoperative models, the high-speed airflow went along the soft palate and into the nasopharyngeal outlet, and there was the low-speed turbulence in the expanded nasopharyngeal cavity. Compared to the preoperative model, the postoperative models exhibited reductions in surface-to-volume ratio, nasal resistance, airflow velocity and proportion of high wall shear stress regions in nasopharynx. The changing trends of nasopharyngeal air temperature and humidity in the preoperative and transoral models were consistent. The heating and humidification efficiency decreased in the transnasal model compared to the transoral model. The endoscopic nasopharyngectomy for recurrent NPC affects the nasal airflow and warming and humidification function. The transoral approach has less influence on aerodynamics of the upper airway compared to the transnasal approach. From a CFD perspective, the endoscopic nasopharyngectomy does not increase the risk of postoperative complications, including the empty nose syndrome and the carotid blowout syndrome.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin
Journal subject:
ENGENHARIA BIOMEDICA
/
FISIOLOGIA
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
China
Country of publication:
United kingdom