ear, nose, and throat disorders
How To Remove Cerumen Manually and With Irrigation
Aftercare for Cerumen Removal
If the procedure was stopped due to pain, the patient should avoid getting water in the ear for 1 week and be given eardrops such asofloxacinor aciprofloxacin/corticosteroid suspension to use twice a day for 3 to 5 days with follow-up to reevaluate. Avoid eardrops containingneomycin, which causes contact dermatitis in up to 20% of patients. Reexamine the ear to assess the canal and tympanic membrane. Retest hearing. If there is retained irrigation fluid but no suspected perforation, instill a few fluoroquinolone oracetic acidear drops to provide prophylaxis against infection, especially if the patient is immunocompromised. For a suspected perforation or if during the procedure there was iatrogenic injury to the external canal or significant pain, give aciprofloxacin/corticosteroid suspension or another fluoroquinolone antibiotic and place the patient on water precautions until the ear is reevaluated. 