Washing the attic

The attic is the supratympanic cavity, the upper part tympanic space. In some diseases of the middle ear, it is necessary to cleanse the attic cavity of pus, accumulated exudate with dead membrane cells. Non-invasive attic lavage – available at the K+31 clinic, a relatively new technique that immediately relieves the patient's condition and contributes to the effective treatment of extensive inflammatory processes in the ear.
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Why is it necessary to clean the attic cavity?

Therapeutic manipulation consists of introducing medicinal solutions into the cavity in order to wash out purulent-necrotic masses under their pressure. Along with them, pathogenic microflora is also removed, which helps to quickly reduce the inflammatory process.

With otitis media of the middle ear, under the pressure of purulent contents in the tympanic space and due to the melting of tissues by pus, perforation of the tympanic membrane often occurs in a typical place - the upper part, which is adjacent to the attic. The attic cavity, in turn, becomes clogged with pathological masses.

When the process is neglected and there is no medical care, the inflammatory process threatens to spread to the bone structures. The proximity of the important neurovascular bundle in this area and the brain suggests a high risk to the health and life of the patient.

Why is it necessary to clean the attic cavity?

Why is the attic washed?

  • Removal of cholesteatoma contents (dead epithelial cells soaked in pus)
  • Collection of biomaterial from cavities for subsequent laboratory research
  • Stopping infectious-inflammatory progression
  • Detection of a tumor-like formation - cholesteatoma
  • Prevention of progression of inflammation to adjacent structures

Indications for cleansing the attic cavity

Frequently, washing the attic is an additional procedure in the whole complex of diagnostic and treatment measures.

Non-invasive manipulation is indicated for the following patient complaints:

  • Sharp hearing loss
  • Draining masses from the ear canal with pus and a very unpleasant odor
  • Pain in the area of the ear, temple, behind the earlobe
  • Feeling of fullness inside the ear
  • Dizziness, headaches
  • Noises in the ears (tinnitus)
  • Autophony (the patient hears the amplified sound of his own voice)
  • Hearing impairment

These symptoms indicate the presence of inflammation of the middle ear (otitis). Erased long-term symptoms indicate a chronic course of the disease, and sudden onset short-term symptoms indicate acute inflammation. Discharge from the ear is a sign of perforation (loss of integrity) of the tympanic membrane (drum), which is a condition for performing the procedure.

General information about the procedure

Contraindications

It is not possible to rinse the attic if there is no hole at the top of the eardrum that allows solutions to be poured into the supratympanic space.

The procedure is also not carried out when:

  • High body temperature, signs of fever
  • Unspecified diagnosis and suspicion of other diseases - for example, tumors
  • Complications that have begun

The decision on the advisability of washing the attic is made by an ENT doctor. Before the procedure, the doctor clarifies the indications and always checks whether there are any contraindications to the manipulation.

Preparation in the procedure

No preparation is required on the patient's part. It is not advisable to clean the ear canals of wax on your own, as there is a risk of pushing wax and impurities into the attic.

Before the procedure, a simple examination may be prescribed:

  • General clinical blood test
  • Otoscopy – examination of the ear canal with a special apparatus to clarify the location of the hole and the condition of the tissues. Sometimes microotoscopy is used - examination using a microscope
  • Tone threshold audiometry to determine hearing acuity
  • X-ray or computed tomography of the temporal bone to assess the condition of bones and soft tissues in this area

In the office, before the manipulation, a nurse or ENT doctor performs hygienic cleaning of the external auditory canal from wax, fluid, and pus.

How to wash the attic

The procedure is simple and can be performed at an initial consultation on an outpatient basis.

Non-invasive manipulation algorithm:

  1. The patient is in a sitting position. A tray is placed under the auricle into which the liquid from rinsing will drain.
  2. The doctor draws a special medicinal solution into the Zhanet syringe for rinsing. If it is first necessary to collect biomaterial from the attic cavity, prepare a microsuction
  3. The ENT specialist inserts a blunt-ended attic needle into the ear canal, carefully moving it towards the perforation. When the tip has reached the entrance to the attic, pressure on the syringe piston delivers the medicinal solution into the supratympanic cavity. To take biomaterial for analysis, a microsuction is first used, then the medicine is administered
  4. If, after washing, semi-solid masses remain in the attic, they are removed using microsuction, then the cavity is washed again with the solution
  5. The attic needle is removed from the ear. A tissue tourniquet soaked in a liquid antiseptic or antibiotic is placed inside the ear canal, and then a cotton ball lubricated with petroleum jelly

Multi-purpose medications are used to wash the attic. It can be:

  • Antiseptic liquids
  • Antibiotics
  • Corticosteroids
  • Antifungal agents

The choice of solution depends on the nature of the inflammation and the type of pathogen. Sometimes rinsing is done with saline or boiled water. The temperature of liquids should not exceed 37℃.

If in one session it is not possible to soften and remove the dense contents of the attic, the doctor prescribes alkaline drops for 2-3 days to soften the stone, and then repeats the washing procedure.

How long does it take and how often is the attic rinsed

The procedure on one ear canal lasts about 10-15 minutes. The patient is not required to be hospitalized. The patient is advised to spend the next hour in a state of rest and warmth, so as not to provoke complications.

If the procedure is performed for diagnostic purposes only, it is limited to a single session.

The treatment course is developed taking into account the disease and the degree of inflammation. Typically, an ENT doctor prescribes 4-10 sessions daily or at intervals of 1-2 days.

Result of the procedure

The patient will feel an improvement in his condition from the first session, as the pressure on the walls of the attic cavity and the damaged eardrum stops, inflammation is stopped, and the external auditory canal is cleaned. Under the influence of an antibiotic or antiseptic, infectious agents lose their ability to be active, so the infectious-inflammatory disease stops.

Washing the attic at the K+31 clinic, Moscow

Qualified ENT doctors at the K+31 clinic have extensive experience in performing the attic lavage procedure. We provide treatment for otitis media using the most effective treatment methods:

  • Systemic antibiotic therapy
  • Catheterization of the auditory tube
  • Blowing the eustachian (auditory) tube according to Politzer
  • Pneumomassage of the eardrum
  • Physiotherapy

The refined technique of performing the procedure of washing the attic allows it to be performed quickly, without traumatizing the tissues of the auditory sections, without pain and discomfort for the patient.

Our doctors

Sadikov
Ilya Sergeyevich
Head of the Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology, Otorhinolaryngologist
Tetzoeva
Zalina Muratovna
Head of the department of otorhinolaryngology, otorhinolaryngologist
Lapshina
Anastasia Andreevna
Otolaryngologist, audiologist
Lopatin
Andrew Stanislavovich
Chief Specialist in Otorhinolaryngology
Portnyagina
Maria Pavlovna
Audiologist-otorhinolaryngologist
Kaspranskaya
Galina Rustemovna
Otorhinolaryngologist, otoneurologist, audiologist
Budeikina
Liliya Sergeevna
Otorhinolaryngologist, phoniatrist
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