It is generally accepted that cerumen removal is a commonly performed, time-consuming procedure that carries added risk if mechanical means or lengthy irrigation procedures are required. To evaluate the efficacy of 2 ceruminolytic products, Cerumenex Eardrops (Purdue Frederick Company, Norwalk, Conn) and Murine Ear Drops (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill), in subjects with partial or complete occlusion of the ear canal due to cerumen. If you do not have a primary care physician and require emergency attention after our normal business hours, please contact the nearest emergency room or call 911.
Neither Cerumenex nor Murine was superior to saline placebo. The degree of occlusion, measured against a previously established 4-point scale, was assessed and recorded at baseline and after each instillation and irrigation procedure. While in many instances earwax can be removed mechanically, specialized instruments such as operating microscopes, suction, and/or flushing equipment may not be available in a primary care setting. 5% carbamide peroxide), and a placebo, BSS Sterile Irrigating Solution (Alcon Laboratories Inc, Ft Worth, Tex). Sore and Strep Throat. Ear wax removal specialist near me. All clinical assessments were performed by a qualified specialist.
Descriptive statistics were calculated for (1) the proportion of subjects in each degree of occlusion category at the end of treatment by baseline severity and (2) the proportion of subjects who obtained resolution of their occlusion relative to the subjects who did not obtain resolution. Cold Sores, Canker and Mouth Sores. 4 Items used to aid earwax removal include household agents such as water and olive oil, stool softeners, and chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, and surfactants. We serve patients from El Cajon CA, Wells Park CA, Rancho San Diego CA, Hillsdale CA, Alpine CA, Santee CA, and Jamul CA. While placebo appeared to be more effective than both ceruminolytics, the difference between Cerumenex and placebo was not statistically significant (P =. Important: You're using Internet Explorer 8, which is unsupported. Ear wax removal orange county. Our Family Care and Medical Care Services will provide you with complete Medical Care, for your Health and Well being. Of 24 occlusions treated with Cerumenex, 2 (8%) cleared after 1 treatment; of 26 occlusions treated with Murine, 3 (12%) cleared after 1 treatment; and of 24 occlusions treated with placebo, 2 (8%) cleared after 1 treatment. 9 The study concluded that oral jet irrigators were a safe method of cerumen removal but that only the lowest settings should be used. While we did not test all marketed ceruminolytics, the products selected for comparison were representative of available ceruminolytic agents, both prescription and over the counter. Currently marketed ceruminolytic products primarily act by softening earwax to facilitate its removal with irrigation, rather than by dissolution. Please consider updating your browser. Ethics review board approval of the protocol, informed consent form, and other study documentation were obtained prior to initiation of the study.
Proportion of subjects experiencing resolution, improvement, or no change/worsening. From among 230 volunteers screened, 74 subjects (age, 22-66 [mean, 45] years) were enrolled in the study. 5%) required 2 applications, whereas 9. Ear wax removal san diego chargers. Use of the WaterPik for ear irrigation under other conditions is not advised because introducing undue force can be harmful to ear structures. 1 It can also impede proper otologic examination, hearing and balance testing, and the effective use of hearing aids. The change from baseline degree of occlusion to a resolved, improved, or unchanged/worsened condition is depicted in Figure 1.
Each application was followed by a standardized irrigation procedure using a WaterPik Oral Jet Irrigator (WaterPik Technologies, Inc, Fort Collins, Colo), modified with a Grossan tip (Hydro Med, Inc, Sherman Oaks, Calif). On site limited laboratory services. It looks like the version of the browser you're using is unsupported. 2, 4, 8 In the present study, per manufacturer's recommendations, the pressure generated by the WaterPik irrigator was controlled by both the speed setting (lowest speed) and the special Grossan tip attachment.
Providing quality medical care without the wait when: - Your primary care physician's office is closed. These values were not statistically significantly different from one another. The distinction between mild and moderate levels of occlusion, however, is more subjective. In the present study, we compared the effectiveness of 2 marketed ceruminolytic products, Cerumenex Eardrops and Murine Ear Drops, with a saline placebo, BSS Sterile Irrigating Solution, in a controlled clinical setting, in which duration of treatment and method of irrigation were held constant. Therefore, in an effort to evaluate the effectiveness of currently available ceruminolytic agents, we compared representative prescription and over-the-counter products with a placebo in a controlled clinical setting. Correspondence: Peter S. Roland, MD, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75235-9035 (). 2, 3 Ceruminolytic agents that soften and/or loosen earwax from the tympanic membrane can facilitate the removal process. Because this was planned as a descriptive study, no power calculations were made prior to study initiation. Pretreatment occlusion was assessed at baseline; treatment effect was assessed after each application and irrigation step. You are away from home. Urinary Tract and Bladder Infections. Accumulated earwax can cause discomfort, temporary hearing loss, occasional cough or vertigo, and can promote infection.
Randomization addressed potential issues of selection bias, while masking and placebo-control allowed for unbiased assessment of assigned treatments. Subjects were asked to lie on their side with the study ear facing upward during treatment. Subjects were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: Cerumenex Eardrops (10% triethanolamine polypeptide oleate-condensate; Purdue Frederick Company, Norwalk, Conn), Murine Ear Drops (6. Accepted for publication June 15, 2004.