Foreign body removal

The removal of foreign bodies from the ear is a common procedure in the emergency department and ENT OPD. It is most commonly seen in children who present with wide range of foreign bodies ranging from food particles (eg, candy, vegetable matter, beans, chewing gum) and other organic material (eg, leaves, flowers, cotton pieces) are commonly encountered. [7] Inorganic objects such as small toys, beads, pencil erasers, and rocks are also common. In adults, insects (eg, cockroaches, moths, flies, household ants) are the foreign bodies most commonly found in the ear.

Techniques appropriate for the removal of ear foreign bodies include mechanical extraction, irrigation, and suction. Practitioners decide the choice of technique based on the nature of the foreign body.