Irrigating, by medical definition, is the process of removing waste from a body canal by flushing the body cavity with water. In the case of the ears, water is safely injected into the ear canal in order to flush out dried earwax and the dust and waste trapped by the wax.
Instructions
1. Swab the ears. This will remove the still-sticky wax that lines the beginning of the ear canal. For comfort, dampen the cotton swab with warm water beforehand.
2. Prepare the patient. Wrap a waterproof shawl over both shoulders to protect the patient's clothing. Have the patient push her hair back away from the ear you are working on. Also, ask the patient to hold a container or towel under the ear to catch the water and wax as it is flushed out.
3. Run water into a sink until it reaches body temperature. Measure the temperature with a thermometer. Use a second container to catch the body-temperature water. You will need a cup or more of water.
4. Affix a soft, rubber catheter to the end of a syringe. You do not want to use a syringe with a needle, in case of accidents. Place the end of the tiny catheter in the water and fill the syringe with water.
5. Aim the end of the catheter at the backside of the ear canal and squirt the water into the ear canal. Squirt rapidly to get the water and waste pushed through and flushed back out of the ear. Dark brown chunks of earwax and debris will begin to rush out of the ear canal.
6. Remove any large pieces of wax that become lodged in the ear canal opening with tweezers. To continue injecting water, only remove wax pieces at the opening of the ear that you cannot flush out of the way.
7. Shine a flashlight or medical ear light to check the ear canal for any remaining chunks of wax. Continue injecting water until the canals are free of debris. When finished, have the patient hold his head over the sink for a few moments to drain out the water before working on the other ear.
Tags: injecting water, into canal, patient hold, syringe with, water into, with water