Abstract：
BACKGROUND: High-flow nasal cannula therapy has garnered significant interest for managing pathologies affecting infants\' airways, particularly for humidifying areas inaccessible to local treatments. This therapy promotes mucosal healing during the postoperative period. However, further data are needed to optimize the use of these devices. In vivo measurement of pediatric airway humidification presents a challenge; thus, this study aimed to investigate the airflow dynamics and humidification effects of high-flow nasal cannulas on an infant\'s airway using computational fluid dynamics.
METHODS: Two detailed models of an infant\'s upper airway were reconstructed from CT scans, with high-flow nasal cannula devices inserted at the nasal inlets. The airflow was analyzed, and wall humidification was modeled using a film-fluid approach.
RESULTS: Air velocities and pressure were very high at the airway inlet but decreased rapidly towards the nasopharynx. Maximum relative humidity-close to 100%-was achieved in the nasopharynx. Fluid film development along the airway was heterogeneous, with condensation primarily occurring in the nasal vestibule and larynx.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides comprehensive models of airway humidification, which pave the way for future studies to assess the impact of surgical interventions on humidification and drug deposition directly at operative sites, such as the nasopharynx or larynx, in infants.
METHODS: Two detailed models of an infant\'s upper airway were reconstructed from CT scans, with high-flow nasal cannula devices inserted at the nasal inlets. The airflow was analyzed, and wall humidification was modeled using a film-fluid approach.
RESULTS: Air velocities and pressure were very high at the airway inlet but decreased rapidly towards the nasopharynx. Maximum relative humidity-close to 100%-was achieved in the nasopharynx. Fluid film development along the airway was heterogeneous, with condensation primarily occurring in the nasal vestibule and larynx.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides comprehensive models of airway humidification, which pave the way for future studies to assess the impact of surgical interventions on humidification and drug deposition directly at operative sites, such as the nasopharynx or larynx, in infants.
摘要：
背景：高流量鼻插管治疗在治疗影响婴儿气道的病变方面引起了极大的兴趣，特别适用于当地治疗无法进入的加湿区域。该疗法在术后期间促进粘膜愈合。然而,需要进一步的数据来优化这些设备的使用。儿科气道湿化的体内测量提出了挑战；因此，本研究旨在利用计算流体力学研究高流量鼻插管对婴儿气道的气流动力学和湿化效应。
方法：通过CT扫描重建了两个婴儿上呼吸道的详细模型，在鼻腔入口处插入高流量鼻插管装置。对气流进行了分析,壁加湿是使用薄膜流体方法建模的。
结果：气道入口处的空气速度和压力非常高，但朝向鼻咽部迅速下降。在鼻咽中实现了接近100%的最大相对湿度。沿气道的液膜发育是异质的，冷凝主要发生在鼻前庭和喉。
结论：本研究提供了气道湿化的综合模型，这为将来评估手术干预对直接在手术部位的湿化和药物沉积的影响的研究铺平了道路，如鼻咽或喉，在婴儿。
方法：通过CT扫描重建了两个婴儿上呼吸道的详细模型，在鼻腔入口处插入高流量鼻插管装置。对气流进行了分析,壁加湿是使用薄膜流体方法建模的。
结果：气道入口处的空气速度和压力非常高，但朝向鼻咽部迅速下降。在鼻咽中实现了接近100%的最大相对湿度。沿气道的液膜发育是异质的，冷凝主要发生在鼻前庭和喉。
结论：本研究提供了气道湿化的综合模型，这为将来评估手术干预对直接在手术部位的湿化和药物沉积的影响的研究铺平了道路，如鼻咽或喉，在婴儿。
