What it means
A procedure using water or saline at body temperature, put in with a syringe or irrigation device. It is done to clear impacted earwax (cerumen), often after drops to soften it. It is not done when the eardrum may be torn, when ear tubes are in place, or when the object could swell with water, such as a bean.
For the nurse
Use fluid at body temperature to avoid dizziness. Straighten the canal (in adults, pull the outer ear up and back; in young children, down and back), aim the stream at the top of the canal and not at the eardrum, and stop if the client has pain or dizziness.
At a glance
| Also written | ear irrigations, ear lavage |
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Related terms
assess
To gather information about a client by looking, listening, asking, measuring and examining.