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Related Questions
Asked in Emergency Medicine
Evidence of clear fluid coming from the nose and ears?

Clear fluid coming from the ears or nose is called otorrhea
(fluid from the ear) or rhinorrhea (fluid form the nose). The
concern with these findings is that the fluid is cerebrospinal
fluid resulting from a passageway from the dural space into the
external environment, especially in the setting of trauma or prior
neurosurgical intervention. To detect cerebrospinal fluid (the
clear fluid we're concerned about) mixed with blood coming from the
ears or nose, get a sample of the fluid on a gauze pad. A positive
test for CSF is a clear fluid surrounding the blood, a "halo."
Asked in Health, Military Medicine
Why should the nasopharyangeal airway not be used if there is evidence of clear fluid coming from the nose or ears?

A nasopharyngeal airway, (aka
NPA or a nasal trumpet), is a
tube inserted into the nasal passageway of an unconscious victim to
provide an open airway (when unconscious the jaw muscles relax and
the tongue to falls back obstructing the airway).
NPA is contraindicated (not used) in patients with severe head
or facial injuries, or a basilar skull fracture (Battle's sign,
raccoon eyes, cerebrospinal fluid/blood from ears,
etc.) due to the possibility of direct contact with brain
tissue.
Asked in Military Medicine
Why should the nasopharyngel airway not be used if there is evidence of clear fluid coming from the nose?

A nasopharyngeal airway, (aka NPA or a nasal
trumpet), is a tube inserted into the nasal passageway of an
unconscious victim to provide an open airway (when unconscious the
jaw muscles relax and the tongue to falls back obstructing the
airway).
NPA is contraindicated (not used) in patients with severe head
or facial injuries, or a basilar skull fracture (Battle's sign,
raccoon eyes, cerebrospinal fluid/blood from ears, etc.) due
to the possibility of direct contact with brain tissue.