Computational Fluid Dynamics as an Emerging Supporting Clinical Tool: Review on Human Airways

TL;DR

This review highlights the potential of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) as a supportive clinical tool for respiratory analysis, demonstrating its accuracy and usefulness in predicting airflow and aiding virtual surgeries.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of recent high-quality studies showing CFD's accuracy and potential in clinical respiratory applications, including virtual surgery planning.

Findings

CFD results are as accurate as traditional pulmonary tests.

CFD can predict airflow and drug deposition patterns.

CFD enables virtual surgery simulations.

Abstract

Objectives: The main objective of this review article is to evaluate the usability of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) as a supporting clinical tool for respiratory system. Data Source: The English articles referred for this review paper were identified from various International peer reviewed journals indexed in Science citation index. Study Selection: 26 high quality articles most relevant to the highlighted topic which were published in last fifteen years were selected from almost 120 articles. Results: The analysis done and the outcome obtained by this computational method is as accurate as Spirometry and Pulmonary function test (PFT) result. CFD can be very useful in the cases where patents is unable to perform PFT. Pressure drop, Velocity profile, Wall shear stress & other flow parameter, respiratory resistance, Pattern of drug deposition, Particles transport/deposition, etc. had also been predicted accurately using CFD. The effect of tracheal stenosis on the flow parameters has been predicted. The size and location of tracheal stenosis has also been correlated with breathing difficulties. The distribution of air in various lobes of the lungs can be accurately predicted with CFD tool. Conclusion: Virtual surgery is eventually possible by using CFD after further research with validation. With the help of this multi - disciplinary and efficient tool we can obtain accurate result while reducing cost and time.