A Systematic Review of Computational Fluid Dynamics Models in the Stomach and Small Intestine

The use of in silico models to improve our understanding of the fluid dynamics within the gastrointestinal tract has increased over the last few decades. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is an in silico technique that can be used to characterize and model the fluid mechanics driving the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients. This systematic review outlines the current methodologies used to develop CFD models of the stomach and small intestine, and summarizes the flow and mixing patterns predicted from these models. A literature search was conducted on Scopus, and 15 stomach CFD studies and 15 small intestine CFD studies were included in this review after the literature selection and exclusion process. Two primary flow patterns; retropulsive flow and recirculation regions, were identified within the stomach CFD models. The flow patterns within the small intestine were depended on the type of motility pattern present. The shortcomings of the current models are discussed, and considerations for future gastric and intestinal flow modeling are provided.

Automated summary

The use of computational models to study the fluid dynamics in the gastrointestinal tract has increased in recent decades. This review summarizes the methodologies used to develop computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models of the stomach and small intestine, and the predicted flow and mixing patterns. A literature search identified 15 studies on stomach CFD and 15 studies on small intestine CFD. The stomach models showed two main flow patterns: retropulsive flow and recirculation regions, while the flow patterns in the small intestine depended on the motility pattern.