TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Diseases of the Ear Canal A1 - Lustig, Lawrence R. A1 - Schindler, Joshua S. A2 - Papadakis, Maxine A. A2 - McPhee, Stephen J. A2 - Rabow, Michael W. PY - 2020 T2 - Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2020 AB - Cerumen is a protective secretion produced by the outer portion of the ear canal. In most persons, the ear canal is self-cleansing. Recommended hygiene consists of cleaning the external opening only with a washcloth over the index finger. Cerumen impaction is most often self-induced through ill-advised cleansing attempts by entering the canal itself. It may be relieved by the patient using detergent ear drops (eg, 3% hydrogen peroxide; 6.5% carbamide peroxide) and irrigation, or by the clinician using mechanical removal, suction, or irrigation. Irrigation is performed with water at body temperature to avoid a vestibular caloric response. The stream should be directed at the posterior ear canal wall adjacent to the cerumen plug. Irrigation should be performed only when the tympanic membrane is known to be intact. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2022/05/18 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1166163786 ER -