Pre-surgery planning tool for estimation of resection volume to improve nasal breathing based on lattice Boltzmann fluid flow simulations

Berger M, Pillei M, Giotakis A, Mehrle A, Recheis W, Kral F, Kraxner M, Riechelmann H, Freysinger W (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery Springer Verlag (Germany)

DOI: 10.1007/s11548-021-02342-z

Abstract

Purpose: State-of-the-art medical examination techniques (e.g., rhinomanometry and endoscopy) do not always lead to satisfactory postoperative outcome. A fully automatized optimization tool based on patient computer tomography (CT) data to calculate local pressure gradient regions to reshape pathological nasal cavity geometry is proposed. Methods: Five anonymous pre- and postoperative CT datasets with nasal septum deviations were used to simulate the airflow through the nasal cavity with lattice Boltzmann (LB) simulations. Pressure gradient regions were detected by a streamline analysis. After shape optimization, the volumetric difference between the two shapes of the nasal cavity yields the estimated resection volume. Results: At LB rhinomanometry boundary conditions (bilateral flow rate of 600 ml/s), the preliminary study shows a critical pressure gradient of −1.1 Pa/mm as optimization criterion. The maximum coronal airflow ΔA := cross-section ratio virtualsurgerypost-surgery found close to the nostrils is 1.15. For the patients a pressure drop ratio ΔΠ := (pre-surgery − virtual surgery)/(pre-surgery − post-surgery) between nostril and nasopharynx of 1.25, 1.72, −1.85, 0.79 and 1.02 is calculated. Conclusions: LB fluid mechanics optimization of the nasal cavity can yield results similar to surgery for air-flow cross section and pressure drop between nostril and nasopharynx. The optimization is numerically stable in all five cases of the presented study. A limitation of this study is that anatomical constraints (e.g. mucosa) have not been considered.

Authors with CRIS profile

Martin Pillei Professur für Hochdruckthermofluiddynamik und Rheologie

Involved external institutions

Medizinische Universität Innsbruck AT Austria (AT) Tirol Kliniken GmbH AT Austria (AT) MCI Management Center Innsbruck AT Austria (AT)

How to cite

APA:

Berger, M., Pillei, M., Giotakis, A., Mehrle, A., Recheis, W., Kral, F.,... Freysinger, W. (2021). Pre-surgery planning tool for estimation of resection volume to improve nasal breathing based on lattice Boltzmann fluid flow simulations. International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11548-021-02342-z

MLA:

Berger, M., et al. "Pre-surgery planning tool for estimation of resection volume to improve nasal breathing based on lattice Boltzmann fluid flow simulations." International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery (2021).

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