We had a few enquiries recently about whether pharmacists should start up an ear irrigation service. We did a little research and came across this BMJ article.
Essentially Doctors do not like to do the service as the procedure is risky and leads to patient complaints. Key learnings from a postal survey of 312 general practitioners who served 650 000 people in Edinburgh found that problems associated with ear syringing were
- Failure of wax removal (29%)
- Otitis media (17%)
- Perforation of the ear drum (15%)
- Trauma to the external auditory meatus (11%)
Although 85% of general practitioners organised ear syringing, only 19% did it themselves—they usually delegated this procedure to practice nurses Severe injuries can result from syringing using an oral jet irrigator with a dental tip (whose original purpose was to remove dental debris). Trauma should rarely occur with the electrical oral jet irrigator with a special tip specially designed for ear wax removal, as this does not develop pressures above a safe level
