title: Aural microsuction for wax impaction: survey of efficacy and patient perception.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cerumen impaction is a common problem, and aural microsuction is a technique frequently employed for its management. This study aimed to quantify the patient perception, safety and efficacy of this procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were asked to complete a questionnaire following cerumen clearance by microsuction. The perceived severity of pain, noise-related discomfort and vertigo was scored on a scale of 1 to 10. Patients with mastoid cavities and those who had used a cerumenolytic agent in the preceding week were analysed separately.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 159 questionnaires were returned. Mean scores (95 per cent confidence intervals) were: pain, 2.34 (2.06-2.62); noise discomfort, 3.03 (2.71-3.35); and vertigo, 1.95 (1.66-2.25). There was successful clearance (i.e. sufficient to view the tympanic membrane) in 91 per cent of cases. Patients who had used cerumenolytics reported significantly less pain and vertigo (p = 0.008 and p < 0.001, respectively) compared with those who had not, whilst patients with mastoid cavities reported greater levels of vertigo (p < 0.001) than those without.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aural microsuction is well tolerated. Side effects are mild, and the prior use of cerumenolytics appears to further reduce their severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT Surgery,Walsall Manor Hospital,UK.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Prowse
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT Surgery,The General Infirmary,Leeds,UK.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mulla
mesh_terms: D002571:Cerumen; D004424:Ear Canal; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010045:Outpatients; D010470:Perceptual Masking / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013396:Suction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires