Chauvin Foreign Body Remover (CFR)

A Recent Discovery Made Regarding the Chauvin Foreign Body Remover (CFBR)

The CFBR was used in the removal of a NON-GRASPABLE, uniquely shaped piece of metal from a child's ear.  Standard alligator forceps and cupped alligator forceps were not able to grab the obstruction because of the metal piece's uniquely curved shape.  The CFBR was used to approach the obstruction from behind and dislodge it from the posterior aspect of the ear canal, moving it away from the ear drum.  Once the obstruction was dislodged and moved away from the ear drum, the posterior aspect of the metal piece was now in view and a non-curved edge became visible.  Alligator forceps were then used to grab the newly exposed portion of the obstruction and easily removed it from the ear canal.  In the case of a non-graspable obstruction, flushing would normally be a possible method of obstruction removal; however, this child had PE tubes installed in their ear drum.  Because of the presence of the PE tube, flushing was not advised due to increased risk of the flushing fluid carrying bacteria and other debris from the ear canal into the middle ear space through the PE tube, which could result in an increased chance of ear infection.  Flushing would also cause the patient a high level of discomfort and pain.  In this case the use of the CFBR was the most optimum method of obstruction removal, was very easy to use, and left the patient pain-free throughout the removal process.  When treating children, avoiding pain and discomfort is of much higher importance than in adults due to their lower ability to remain cooperative during the painful experience.  This new realization that the presence of PE tubes in the ear drum makes flushing an undesirable method of obstruction removal highlights the importance of having an alternative, and in this case, superior method of non-graspable obstruction removal!