Eye, Ear, and Nose Injuries
Lesson 6: Irrigate an Obstructed Ear
6-4
6-4. EQUIPMENT/SOLUTIONS USED FOR EAR IRRIGATION
a. Equipment. See figure 6-2.
(1) Rubber bulb.
(2) Asepto syringe (glass).
(3) Pomeroy syringe.
Figure 6-2. Ear irrigation equipment.
(A - rubber bulb, B - glass Asepto syringe, C - Pomeroy syringe).
b. Solutions.
(1) Common solutions (water or water mix).
(2) Tap water.
(3) Normal saline.
(4) Hydrogen peroxide and water.
(5) Bicarbonate of soda and water.
(6) Prescribed medication--mix solution, if required.
(7) Alcohol when used for vegetable matter, shrinks matter, and the matter is easily expelled.
(8) Oil is used to make the foreign matter slippery and easy to expel.
c. Otoscope.
(1) The otoscope is an instrument used to view the external auditory canal.
(2) The speculum is an attachment to the otoscope that permits one to see inside the external ear canal.
