ear, nose, and throat disorders
How To Remove Cerumen Manually and With Irrigation
Positioning for Cerumen Removal
It is important to position yourself and your patient so that you have an optimal view into the ear canal and both of you are comfortable. For irrigation, have the patient sit or semi-recline with the head supported. Have the patient or an assistant hold an emesis basin below the patient’s ear and against the neck and cheek. For manual removal, position the patient supine or semi-reclined, with the head supported. For instillation of a cerumenolytic, position the patient supine, with the head turned and the ear facing upward so the medication remains in the ear canal. 