title: Otic drops used to clear a blocked grommet: an in vitro prospective randomized controlled study with blinded assessment.
abstract: Clinicians often prescribe otic drops anecdotally to try and clear grommets blocked with blood. We carried out an in vitro double-blind randomized controlled study comparing the efficacy of sodium bicarbonate, Locorten Vioform and olive oil drops in clearing Shah grommets placed in 'artificial ears' and blocked with blood in a standardized fashion. There were 33 grommets in each group, and drops were inserted three times a day for 7 days. Olive oil drops cleared 17 of 33 (51.51%), Locorten Vioform cleared one of 33 (3%) and sodium bicarbonate cleared zero of 33 (0%) blocked grommets. Statistical comparison between pairs indicates that olive oil was significantly better than both Locorten Vioform (P < 0.001) and sodium bicarbonate drops (P < 0.001) at clearing grommets blocked with blood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, York District Hospital, Wigginton Road, York, UK. pjassar@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jassar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jose
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Homer
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007464:Clioquinol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005443:Flumethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000295:instrumentation; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; C005565:flumethasone pivalate; D007464:Clioquinol; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D005443:Flumethasone