CFD investigation of the upper airway of patients with Treacher Collins Syndrome

Abstract

The main objective of the project is to investigate the points of obstruction and deformities in the human upper airway, a region that contemplates the respiratory channel from the nasal cavity to the hypopharynx, which can cause breathing difficulties in patients with the Treacher Collins Syndrome, with the use of CFD simulations. With the support of the master student Rodrigo Barboza Nunes, 15 CT scans of the region of interest were obtained from patients with different degrees of airway impairment in order to, from obtaining a 3D model with image processing software, perform breath simulations to identify the critical points of each patient and, together with health professionals, promote a more accurate analysis of each patient's clinical condition and the conditions caused by this syndrome.