Instructions for removing foreign bodies from the ear

The article was consulted with Specialist Doctor Ear - Nose - Throat Doctor - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Hai Phong International Hospital.

Foreign bodies in the ear are very common, especially in children. Foreign bodies in the ear usually do not cause symptoms at first until they trigger an inflammatory response that causes pain, itching, infection, and purulent discharge. Therefore, removal of a foreign body in the ear should be performed immediately after being acquired according to a guided procedure to ensure safety and effectiveness for the patient.

A foreign body in the ear is a condition in which an object gets stuck in the ear (the tube leading from the eardrum to the outside). Ear foreign bodies often occur in young children, due to the habit of putting them in their own ears when playing or playing with objects such as beads, beans, buttons... A small number of ear foreign bodies are cones. Insects (ants, bees) get into the ear and cause serious symptoms such as earache, tinnitus and dizziness.

Having a foreign body in the ear often has some symptoms as follows:
The patient feels pain in the ear, especially in the case of the foreign body causing damage to the ear or eardrum. Patients with reduced hearing, tinnitus or hearing loss. In case the foreign body is a living insect, the patient hears tinnitus or a tickling sensation in the ear. Bleeding, itching in the ear. Dizzy .

The procedure to remove foreign bodies in the ear is performed by an otolaryngologist, with the support of a specialist nurse and the following technical means:
Clar lamp or 0o endoscope 18cm long, 2.7 inch diameter mm. Straight microsurgery pan (Pince), elbow clamp, obtuse hook, sharp hook, earwax spoon. Parafine oil, glycerine or ether, chloroform for insect foreign bodies. The doctor explains to the patient about the purpose and complications when taking foreign bodies in the ear; instruct the patient to sign an agreement to perform the procedure as prescribed. In addition, the doctor advised the patient to fast before the procedure and give prophylactic antibiotics.

The steps to remove the ear foreign body are as follows:
3.1. Checking the file The doctor re-checks the necessary tests, the written commitment to perform the procedure.
3.2. Checking the patient Check the whole body condition, whether the patient fasted before carrying out the removal of the foreign body.
3.3. Performing the technique For common foreign objects such as beads, beans, pieces of paper, etc., the doctor will pump water to remove the foreign body or use an elbow hook to remove it, do not use a smooth clamp to pick up the foreign object because easily slip and push the foreign body deep into the ear.
For a foreign object that is an insect, the doctor will put oil in the ear (paraffine oil, glycerine) or use cotton soaked in ether placed deep in the ear first to kill the insect. Wait a few minutes and then remove the foreign body.
In the case of rough intervention or improper removal technique, the foreign body is pushed deeply, stuck tightly in the bone of the ear canal or in the tympanic cavity. The doctor administers anesthesia and puts the patient in a supine position, making an incision behind the ear to remove the foreign body.
3.4. Monitoring and managing complications after removing foreign objects in the ear Some complications that can occur after the procedure are as follows:
Inflammation of the outer ear canal: The doctor uses antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic. site for the patient. Perforated eardrum: Patch the eardrum if it does not heal on its own. In summary, ear foreign bodies often cause pain, itching, infection, and ear discharge if not detected early. Therefore, removal of a foreign body in the ear should be performed immediately after being acquired according to a guided procedure to ensure safety and effectiveness for the patient.
Currently, the ENT specialist - Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the prestigious addresses, trusted by a large number of customers in examining and treating common ENT diseases, tumors. head, face, neck, congenital malformations in the ENT region by common surgical methods such as surgery, microscopic or endoscopic tympanic patch, fistula removal, Bondy surgery, nasopharyngeal aerosol, injection Not only has a system of modern facilities and equipment, Vinmec is also a place to gather a team of experienced doctors and nurses who will greatly assist in the diagnosis. diagnose and detect early signs of abnormality of the patient's body. In particular, with a space designed according to 5-star hotel standards, Vinmec guarantees to bring patients the most comfort, friendliness and peace of mind during the examination and treatment at the Hospital.