Skip to main content
Log in

Unsteady flow in the nasal cavity with high flow therapy measured by stereoscopic PIV

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Experiments in Fluids Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Nasal high flow (NHF) cannulae are used to deliver heated and humidified air to patients at steady flows ranging from 5 to 50 l/min. In this study, the flow velocities in the nasal cavity across the complete respiratory cycle during natural breathing and with NHF has been mapped in vitro using time-resolved stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV). An anatomically accurate silicone resin model of a complete human nasal cavity was constructed using CT scan data and rapid prototyping. Physiological breathing waveforms were reproduced in vitro using Reynolds and Womersley number matching and a piston pump driven by a ball screw and stepper motor. The flow pattern in the nasal cavity with NHF was found to differ significantly from natural breathing. Velocities of 2.4 and 3.3 ms−1 occurred in the nasal valve during natural breathing at peak expiration and inspiration, respectively; however, on expiration, the maximum velocity of 3.8 ms−1 occurred in the nasopharynx. At a cannula flow rate of 30 l/min, maximal velocities of 13.6 and 16.5 ms−1 at peak expiration and inspiration, respectively, were both located in the cannula jet within the nasal valve. Results are presented that suggest the quasi-steady flow assumption is invalid in the nasal cavity during natural breathing; however, it was valid with NHF. Cannula flow has been found to continuously flush the nasopharyngeal dead space, which may enhance carbon dioxide removal and increase oxygen fraction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Campbell EJ, Baker MD, Critessilver P (1988) Subjective effects of humidification of oxygen for delivery by nasal cannula—a prospective-study. Chest 93:289–293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chung S-K, Kim SK (2008) Digital particle image velocimetry studies of nasal airflow. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 163:111–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chung SK, Son YR, Shin SJ, Kim SK (2006) Nasal airflow during respiratory cycle. Am J Rhinol 20:379–384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Churchill SE, Shackelford LL, Georgi JN, Black MT (2004) Morphological variation and airflow dynamics in the human nose. Am J Hum Biol 16:625–638

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doorly DJ, Taylor DJ, Schroter RC (2008) Mechanics of airflow in the human nasal airways. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 163:100–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dysart K, Miller TL, Wolfson MR, Shaffer TH (2009) Research in high flow therapy: mechanisms of action. Respir Med 103:1400–1405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Girardin M, Bilgen E, Arbour P (1983) Experimental study of velocity fields in a human nasal fossa by laser anemometry. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 92:231–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Groves N, Tobin A (2007) High flow nasal oxygen generates positive airway pressure in adult volunteers. Aust Crit Care 20:126–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Honkanen M, Nobach H (2005) Background extraction from double-frame PIV images. Exp Fluids 38:348–362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horschler I, Schroder W, Meinke M (2010) On the assumption of steadiness of nasal cavity flow. J Biomech 43:1081–1085

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ishikawa S, Nakayama T, Watanabe M, Matsuzawa T (2006) Visualization of flow resistance in physiological nasal respiration—analysis of velocity and vorticities using numerical simulation. Archives Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 132:1203–1209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee J-H, Na Y, Kim S-K, Chung S-K (2010) Unsteady flow characteristics through a human nasal airway. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 172:136–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindemann J, Brambs HJ, Keck T, Wiesmiller KM, Rettinger G, Pless D (2005) Numerical simulation of intranasal airflow after radical sinus surgery. Am J Otolaryngol 26:175–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Johnson MR, Matida EA, Kherani S, Marsan J (2009) Creation of a standardized geometry of the human nasal cavity. J Appl Physiol 106:784–795

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Locke RG, Wolfson MR, Shaffer TH, Rubenstein SD (1993) Inadvertent administration of positive end-distending pressure during nasal cannula flow. Pediatrics 91:135–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Proetz AW (1951) Air currents in the upper respiratory tract and their clinical importance. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 60:439–467

    Google Scholar 

  • Schreck S, Sullivan KJ, Ho CM et al (1993) Correlations between flow resistance and geometry in a model of the human nose. J Appl Physiol 75:1767–1775

    Google Scholar 

  • Spence CJT, Buchmann NA, Jermy MC, Moore SM (2010) Stereoscopic PIV measurements of flow in the nasal cavity with nasal high flow therapy. Exp Fluids:1–13. doi: 10.1007/s00348-010-0984-z

  • Tobin MJ, Chadha TS, Jenouri G, Birch SJ, Gazeroglu HB, Sackner MA (1983) Breathing patterns: 1. Normal subjects. Chest 84:202–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walsh BK, Brooks TM, Grenier BM (2009) Oxygen therapy in the neonatal care environment. Respir care 54:1193–1202

    Google Scholar 

  • Womersley JR (1955) Method for the calculation of velocity, rate of flow and viscous drag in arteries when the pressure gradient is known. J Physiol London 127:553–563

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Fisher & Paykel Healthcare and St George’s Radiology, in particular C. White and Yasamin Al-Tiay, and S. Wells and C. Stevens, respectively, for supporting this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. J. T. Spence.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Spence, C.J.T., Buchmann, N.A. & Jermy, M.C. Unsteady flow in the nasal cavity with high flow therapy measured by stereoscopic PIV. Exp Fluids 52, 569–579 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-011-1044-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-011-1044-z

Keywords

Navigation