Ear Tubes
What are Ear tubes?
Ear tubes are small plastic or silastic tubes that are inserted into the ear
drum (tympanic membrane) to help ventilate the middle ear and prevent fluid from
building up behind the eardrum. These tubes have been proven to help decrease
the number of ear infections (otitis media) in children. The tubes allow the
pressure in the middle ear to be equal to the pressure outside the ear. This
is why they are sometimes called PE tubes or “pressure equalization” tubes.
When are tubes a consideration?
Your doctor may have sent you to us to be evaluated for placement of PE tubes.
This procedure is the most commonly performed ear operation and remains extremely
safe and effective. Ear tubes are often recommended for children who get repeated
ear infections or for those who develop fluid behind the eardrum that does not
go away. (otitis media with effusion) The tubes are especially helpful in reversing
the hearing loss due to fluid stuck behind the eardrum. Both of these problems
are most common between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, although older children
sometimes have these problems too. Each individual is different and it is not
possible to give an exact number of ear infections needed before PE tubes should
be considered. General guidelines based on past research has shown that children
with more than four infections in six months or more than 6 infections in one
year would probably benefit from placement of PE tubes.
What is involved with PE tube placement?
Every patient who is to undergo PE tubes is first scheduled for a hearing test
(audiogram). This is to document the baseline hearing and also to measure how
much hearing loss may be present from fluid in the middle ear. The surgery is
done in the operating room with a very brief general anesthetic. The whole surgery
lasts only 10-15 minutes and is performed using a special microscope. Everything
is done thru the ear canal so there are no outside incisions at all. A tiny hole
(myringotomy) is made in the ear drum through which any fluid is suctioned away.
Then a very small PE tube is placed through that same hole allowing air to enter
the middle ear. Drops are then placed in the ear canal and the procedure is finished.
This procedure is almost always done as an outpatient and your child will be
sent home with a prescription for antibiotic ear drops.
Your child will be given specific instructions after surgery but most can
return to normal activities once leaving the hospital. Children can return to
daycare the next day. Post op care is individualized and will be discussed by
your surgeon. Plan on making a post operative visit to the office 3-4 weeks after
surgery. This visit will include an exam of the ears as well as the possibility
of a follow up hearing test.
For more information please see OTITIS MEDIA and OTITIS
MEDIA WITH EFFUSION as well as EAR
TUBES POST OP INSTRUCTIONS.
For a great on line review of ear tubes please go to www.petube.org |
