It is near the end of your shift and one of the nurses asks you to see a fellow ED staff member’s nine-year old daughter who has accidentally put a foreign body into her ear. You go see her and the otoscope reveals a small shiny jewel within the ear canal however flushing does not work to get it out. Next you try using the otoscope, while exposing the ear canal and holding the forceps to grasp the object. Unfortunately, it is difficult to get your assistant to align the light, and the otoscope speculum is limited in view and access.
Trick of the Trade: Pediatric video laryngoscope for better visualization
Using a Miller 0 blade of a pediatric video laryngoscope (in this case we used a C-MAC), you are able to provide exposure to the ear canal and light as well as allow access to remove the object. The jewel is easily removed with forceps.
The same may be done with a regular direct laryngoscope. The advantage of video may be to provide magnification, to supervise learners in the removal of foreign bodies and may assist in visualizing deeper objects within the ear or nasal cavity.
Other Tricks of the Trade discussing ear foreign bodies (insect in ear, bead in ear).
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