10 - Cerumen Management Flashcards
Define cerumen management
“Cerumen management refers to the strategies, procedures, and tools used for the purposes of removing cerumen from the external auditory canal and/or the management of patients with impacted cerumen”
Do patients typically require cerumen management just once?
No, patients that require cerumen management often require it on a scheduled basis
Tympanic membrane comprised of ____ distinctive layers
3
What are the layers of the TM?
1) Outer epithelial layer (we see this layer during otoscopy, this part comes off and starts to migrate down the EAC)
2) Fibrous middle layer (very strong drum, but won’t be as strong if its compromised through a tube or perf)
3) Inner Mucosal layer (faces the ME space)
What are the 2 different parts of the TM?
1) Pars tensa
2) Pars flaccida
Explain the pars tensa
- Lower 3 quarters
- Fibrous layer
Explain the pars flaccida
- Upper quarter
- Sparse fibrous layer
- Weak point (often where a cholesteatoma will be)
If there is no cerumen in the EAC, what are the 4 landmarks you should see during otoscopy?
1) Membrane tissue
2) Cone of light/light reflex
3) Long and short process of the malleus
4) Annulus
What 5 things are we looking at in a healthy EAC?
1) Consistency/texture
2) Color
3) Shape
4) Overall health
5) Abnormalities
What is the average length of the EAC in a female, male, and child?
Average Length: approximately 28mm for female, 30mm for male, and 20-25mm in pediatric patients
What part of the EAC is longer?
The inferior side of the canal is longer than the superior side (more length on the bottom part of the ear canal)
What part of the EAC is most sensitive?
The inferior/posterior canal wall may be more sensitive than the superior/ anterior canal wall* (if you touch the inferior/posterior canal, it is more likely to bleed)
Where is the isthmus?
Between the cartilaginous and osseous portion of the ear canal lies the isthmus (an extremely sensitive portion of the EAC; stay out of the isthmus)
What gland creates saliva?
Parotid gland
What happens if you touch the superior/anterior EAC?
Patient reaction
What happens if you touch the inferior/posterior EAC?
Bleed
There is CN innervation to the EAC from CNs ____, ____, ____, and ____.
Nerve innervation from cranial nerves V, VII, IX, X
What reflex causes a cough in patients?
Arnold’s reflex (CN X)
What part of the EAC trigger Arnold’s reflex?
Inferior/posterior area
Why is the EAC sensitive to bleeding?
Connection to the jugular vein through the superficial temporal and posterior auricular vein
Why is bleeding a risk to our patients?
Bleeding poses a risk to patients as a way to potentially introduce infection to the ear. We need to be exceptionally cautious in our approach, our tools, and our vigilance in infection control.
The EAC is an ____ shape
“S” (2 bends)
What are the two portions of the EAC?
1) cartilaginous portion
2) bony portion
Explain the cartilaginous portion
- Cartilaginous portion between 1st & 2nd bend
- Cerumen production area
- Cartilage is flexible and can shift with jaw movements (helps cerumen move out of the ear)
Explain the bony portion
- Bony portion past the 2nd bend
- More rigid
- More sensitive compared to cartilaginous portion
- Cerumen can get into this portion
We want to go as ____ as possible to get wax out effectively
Shallow
What is happening here?
Perforated TM (trauma or medical intervetion)
- entry point to the ME space
- immediate refer
- if the perf has been seen by an ENT, you can proceed with CM
- with any hole, no irrigation (do not want water in the ME space)
What is happening here?
Acute otitis media (AOM) and otitis media with effusion (OME)
- infections in the ME space
- needs to be cleared before attempting CM
What is happening here?
Exostoses
- these are in the bony portion close to the TM
- we can do CM, but need to be extremely cautious
- if you think you may touch the exostoses, refer
What is happening here?
Cholesteatoma
- congenital or acquired
- refer to ENT ASAP
- typically seen in the pars flaccida (point of less resistance)
What is happening here?
Bollous Myringitis
- most likely a significant amount of pain
- refer to ENT
What is happening here?
Otitis Externa
- very inflamed and painful
- refer (needs treatment from a physician)
- same for fungus or fungal spores
What is happening here?
Modified canal: mastoidectomy
- space has been modified, so structure has been changes (which can change sensitivity and nerve innervation patterning)
- refer to ENT
What are 7 important questions to find out about in case history before proceeding with CM?
1) Immunocompromised/Immunosuppressed (Diabetes, HIV, Hepatitis, steroid medications, chemotherapeutic medications, prednisone)
2) Heart conditions and heart medications
3) Elevated bleeding risks and anti-coagulant medication (warfarin)?
4) Anti-platelet medication (clopidogrel)?
5) Past radiation?
6) Any other health conditions that may elevate risk?
7) Head Injuries? Acute health conditions?
These are patients where you would proceed with extreme caution or refer out
If patients are immunocompromised they have a greater risk for ____ and ____
infection, bleeding
History of TM perforation or perforation
a) potential concern
b) resolution
a) weakened TM and/or exposure of ME cavity
b) irrigation and/or mechanical/suction
History of ME surgery
a) potential concern
b) resolution
a) weakened TM, change in anatomy, susceptible to potential infection
b) irrigation, mechanical/suction, ENT
History of otitis media
a) potential concern
b) resolution
a) weakened TM or persistent perf
b) irrigation and/or mechanical/suction
Otalgia
a) potential concern
b) resolution
a) active OE or ME disease
b) ENT
Unilateral HL
a) potential concern
b) resolution
a) cerumen removal complications in good ear
b) proceed with caution
PE tubes
a) potential concern
b) resolution
a) concern for TM and/or ME cavity
b) mechanical/suction
Chronic ear drainage
a) potential concern
b) resolution
a) active ear disease
b) refer to ENT
Irritation and/or inflammation
a) potential concern
b) resolution
a) active ear disease
b) refer to ENT
Cholesteatoma
a) potential concern
b) resolution
a) active ear disease
b) refer to ENT
Exostoses, osteoma
a) potential concern
b) resolution
a) exacerbation of symptoms
b) proceed if growth is not affected by wax or refer to ENT
Deep canal wax
a) potential concern
b) resolution
a) no binocular vision, can’t judge depth
b) GP for irrigation, refer to ENT
What does it mean if a person is using anti-coagulant or anti-platelet medication?
a) potential concern
b) resolution
a) increased bleeding
b) mechanical/suction