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During ear tube placement
Surgeons usually perform the operation to place ear tubes (myringotomy) using general anesthesia, so your child is unconscious during the procedure. The anesthesiologist or anesthetist gives your child an anesthetic medication as a gas to breathe through a mask or injects a liquid medication into a vein.
The surgical team places several monitors on your child's body to help make sure that his or her heart rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen remain at safe levels throughout the procedure. These monitors include a blood pressure cuff on the child's arm and heart-monitor leads attached to your child's chest.
Once your child is anesthetized, the surgeon:
- Makes a small incision in your child's eardrum, through the ear canal. To make the incision, the surgeon uses a small scalpel or a laser — a focused ray of light used to create a hole.
- Inserts a tiny metal or plastic tube into the hole in your child's eardrum. It usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes to insert the tube.
After ear tube placement
After surgery, your child is moved to a recovery room where the health care team watches for complications from the surgery and anesthesia. If there aren't any complications, your child will be able to go home within a few hours.
Your child will likely be sleepy and irritable for the rest of the day. In most cases, children resume regular activities within 24 hours of the surgery. You may need to take precautions to protect the ear and tube when your child is swimming or bathing. Discuss possible restrictions and water-protection options with your child's doctor.
You may see drainage from your child's ear for up to one week after the surgery. This is normal. But if it doesn't stop after a week, contact your child's doctor. Drainage may appear as crusted material or as seeping liquid. The color of the drainage may be clear, green, yellow, brown, pink or bloody. After surgery, your doctor may prescribe eardrops to prevent buildup of blood or other fluids in the tube.
- Ear tubes. American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/Ear-Tubes.cfm. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- Isaacson GC. Overview of tympanostomy tube placement and medical care of children with tympanostomy tubes. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- Otitis media (ear infection). National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/otitism.htm. Accessed March 23, 2009.
- Rowe LD. Conductive hearing loss. In: Current Surgical Diagnosis & Treatment. 12th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2006.
- Lous J. Which children would benefit most from tympanostomy tubes (grommets)? A personal evidence-based review. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. 2008;72:731.
- Keyhani S, et al. Overuse of tympanostomy tubes in New York metropolitan area: Evidence from five hospital cohort. BMJ. 2008;337:1607.
