  Middle turbinate resection significantly alters the anatomy and redistributes
the inhaled air. The superior half of the main nasal cavity is opened up,
increasing accessibility to the region. This is expected to increase inhalation
dosimetry to the region during exposure to airborne particles. This study
investigated the influence of middle turbinate resection on the deposition of
inhaled pollutants that cover spherical and non-spherical particles (e.g.
pollen). A computational model of the nasal cavity from CT scans, and its
corresponding post-operative model with virtual surgery performed was created.
Two constant flow rates of 5_L/min, and 15_L/min were simulated under a laminar
flow field. Inhaled particles including pollen (non-spherical), and a spherical
particle with reference density of 1000 kg/m3 were introduced in the
surrounding atmosphere. The effect of surgery was most prominent in the less
patent cavity side, since the change in anatomy was proportionally greater
relative to the original airway space. The left cavity produced an increase in
particle deposition at a flow rate of 15_L/min. The main particle deposition
mechanisms were inertial impaction, and to a lesser degree gravitational
sedimentation. The results are expected to provide insight into inhalation
efficiency of different aerosol types, and the likelihood of deposition in
different nasal cavity surfaces.
