Simple Solutions for Difficult Problems, Part 1

Sometimes the best solution is the simple one, and this series of handy tricks will help you master the most difficult problems. The majority of the procedures require old-school techniques with a new flare. Many of these might have been forgotten, but just a few minutes of brushing up on the basics while watching our how-to videos and reading our step-by-step blog will get you ready.How many times have you removed objects from someone's ear? If it's too many to count and you have been successful, then you don't have to reinvent the wheel. But if you are looking for a different way to remove objects such as earbuds, insects, tips of glasses, wads of cotton, or other bizarre findings, then topical cocaine can help you painlessly remove foreign objects from the ear.It is almost impossible for any patient to hold still while a clinician removes a deeply imbedded foreign body from the ear canal. It's just too sensitive of an area. Some foreign bodies can be removed with irrigation, and those easily seen and grasped can be removed with a gentle hand. IM/IV conscious sedation may be tried, but it is often not totally effective. A number of ways to anesthetize the canal have been suggested, but they are not readily effective. Topical cocaine is about the only way to anesthetize the canal enough, without distortion of anatomy, to gain successful topical anesthesia.Importantly, don't persist if the foreign body cannot be removed. Persnickety foreign bodies are best removed by a specia...
Source: The Procedural Pause - Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs