BACKGROUND

Nasal saline irrigation has become standard of care in various sinonasal conditions, including allergic and nonallergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, and in the postoperative patient. Evidence regarding the mechanisms and dynamics of liquid flow through the sinonasal cavity remains limited due to inadequate experimental models (cadaveric, 3-dimensional [3D] printed, imaging of labeled dyes and radioisotopes). We aimed to develop a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of nasal irrigation to demonstrate sinonasal surface coverage, residence times across the mucosal surfaces, and shearing force of irrigation.

METHODS

A nasal cavity geometry derived from high-resolution paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) scans of a healthy, unoperated, 25-year-old patient was created. CFD analysis was performed to assess the distribution of nasal irrigation from a tapered nozzle bottle at a forward head-tilt position of 45 degrees with a 2-second burst at 35 mL/second.

RESULTS

The model demonstrates nasal irrigation from ipsilateral to contralateral with precise measures of velocity, pressure, wall shear stress, and mapping of surface coverage and residence times at specific locations and times. The nasal cavity experiences almost complete coverage of irrigation, while overflow from the nasal cavity facilitates moderate coverage of the ipsilateral maxillary (40%) and anterior ethmoid sinuses (30%). Negligible coverage of the sphenoid and frontal sinuses was noted.

CONCLUSION

Detailed physical mechanisms of liquid irrigation injected from a commonly used squeeze bottle were shown. Ipsilateral maxillary and ethmoid sinus penetration are primarily due to overflow rather than direct jet entry, confirming the recommendation of larger volumes of irrigation to "flood" the sinus ostia.