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Ear Canal SuctionAka: Ear Suction, Cerumen Removal by Suction

Indications
1. Cerumen Impaction with soft or semi-fluid cerumen
2. Otorrhea
  1. Interfering with examination
  2. Ear toilet in Acute Otitis Externa management
Contraindications
1. Previous radical mastoid surgery
2. Tympanostomy Tubes
3. Tympanic Membrane Perforation
Equipment
1. Suction through otoscope head for visualization
2. Suction tips
  1. Blunt tipped 14 gauge angiocatheter
  2. Frazier malleable suction tip (5 to 7 French)
3. Wall suction (or portable) at 10 cm H2O
Technique
1. Avoid excessive suctioning
  1. Caloric stimulation may lead to Vertigo
2. Suctioning terminated by compressing tubing

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This page was written by Scott Moses, MD. This page was last revised before 5/10/08, prior to consistent tracking of revision date. This page was last published on 2/26/2010. Please send comments and questions to the editor. Contact information may be found on the page About the Family Practice Notebook. These pages are best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0.