Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

Emphysema, a chronic lung disease characterized by respiratory distress and reduced lung function, poses significant challenges. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) coupled with fluid structure interaction (FSI) is a highly effective simulation technique that offers valuable insights into the mechanics of lung function and the influence of diseases like emphysema. The intricate lung alveolar sacs play a vital role in gas exchange, and CFD with FSI enables the simulation of mechanical forces that shape and impact their functionality. By employing CFD with FSI, we can simulate the fluid dynamics of emphysema and acquire a comprehensive understanding of disease progression. These simulations allow us to explore the contributions of tidal breathing and surface tension forces. This study has demonstrated through FSI that a lung alveolus affected by pulmonary emphysema, and therefore collapsed, causes reduced air intake with each breath. This is due to the significantly compromised deformability of the alveolar wall. Ultimately, this technique plays a critical role in developing therapeutic interventions to improve patient outcomes.