Ear foreign body: Difference between revisions

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==Management==
==Management==
*Button battery - Requires emergent removal (in consultation with ENT)
*Button battery - Requires emergent removal (in consultation with ENT)
*Insect - Kill with mineral oil, [[EtOH]], or 2% [[lidocaine]] prior to removal
*Insect - Kill with mineral oil, [[EtOH]], diluted hydrogen peroxide, or 2% [[lidocaine]] prior to removal
*[[Tympanic membrane rupture|Penetrating FB's]] - Have a low threshold for ENT consult
*[[Tympanic membrane rupture|Penetrating FB's]] - Have a low threshold for ENT consult


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*Irrigation
*Irrigation
**Contraindicated if suspected TM perforation, tympanostomy tubes, button battery, or vegetable parts (swells)
**Contraindicated if suspected TM perforation, tympanostomy tubes, button battery, or vegetable parts (swells)
**Body temperature sterile water or normal saline
**Body temperature sterile water or normal saline to avoid inducing nystagmus
**Attach 14 or 16 ga IV catheter to syringe
**Attach 14 or 16 ga IV catheter to 20-60 mL syringe
**Can also utilize an infant nasogastric tube instead of an IV catheter, place tip of catheter next to TM, connect syringe and irrigate
*Alligator forceps
*Alligator forceps
*Right angle tool / day hook
*Right angle tool / day hook

Revision as of 19:14, 15 April 2020

Background

Ear anatomy
  • Usually children 6 yo or younger

Clinical Features

  • Caregiver often reports seeing child put something in the ear
  • Decreased hearing or otalgia
  • More common on right (hand dominant) side
  • May have otorrhea or bleeding
  • Foreign body contacting tympanic membrane can cause intractable hiccups

Differential Diagnosis

Ear Diagnoses

External

Internal

Inner/vestibular

Evaluation

  • Typically seen on visual inspection or otoscopy
  • Check other ear / nares

Management

  • Button battery - Requires emergent removal (in consultation with ENT)
  • Insect - Kill with mineral oil, EtOH, diluted hydrogen peroxide, or 2% lidocaine prior to removal
  • Penetrating FB's - Have a low threshold for ENT consult

Removal

  • Irrigation
    • Contraindicated if suspected TM perforation, tympanostomy tubes, button battery, or vegetable parts (swells)
    • Body temperature sterile water or normal saline to avoid inducing nystagmus
    • Attach 14 or 16 ga IV catheter to 20-60 mL syringe
    • Can also utilize an infant nasogastric tube instead of an IV catheter, place tip of catheter next to TM, connect syringe and irrigate
  • Alligator forceps
  • Right angle tool / day hook
  • Scoop with curette (lighted curette helpful)
  • Schuknecht extractor (attaches to wall suction)
  • Dermabond on a swab stick
    • Allow glue to become tacky before inserting into canal
    • May use disposable ear speculum to shield canal so do not accidentally glue stick to ear canal

Antibiotics

Disposition

  • Emergent ENT for all button batteries failing ED management
  • Urgent ENT consult/follow-up for TM injuries, retained FB, retained insect parts

See Also

External Links

References