Tympanostomy

Tympanostomy or ear tubes, are for children and adults who have chronic middle ear infections or consistent infections that are persistent against medication and treatment. This surgery is performed by an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) surgeon. Ear tubes are little, hollow, and metal cylinders placed in your Tympanic membrane (eardrum). 

This surgery is extremely common in children but not as common in adults. In children, the tubes are placed in the ear when they have severe middle ear infections or used to treat build up of fluid (effusion). In adults, it is most frequently used in barotrauma- a condition caused by pressure changing. Ear tubes are mostly used to drain fluid but they also are used to let air into the eardrum to prevent build up.  

To prepare for the surgery most patients just need to fast for hours. For younger patients they are given sleep medications and a mask to help them breathe. On the other hand, adults do not usually need to be put under anesthesia and just use numbing medicine.

The ENT starts the surgery by looking into the eardrum with a tiny camera or a special microscope. After looking inside the ear they clean out the eardrum, removing earwax or skin flakes. After the ear is completely cleaned, the surgeon makes a tiny cut in the lower front part of the eardrum. Next, the ENT drains fluid from behind the eardrum, which could have been the main cause for the ear tubes. The fluid is drained using a small tube and saltwater may be used to flush the rest of it out. A tiny tube is placed into the cut made. This tube keeps the hole open for air flow and keeps liquid from building up again. 

The surgery is a quick and safe way to prevent future ear infections, help children and adults hear, and feel better. After surgery, antibiotic ear drops are used immediately as well as at home for a few days. The ear drops help the tube from clogging and lowering the chance of infection. Most children recover quickly, and the tubes fall out on their own as the ear heals naturally. Overall, Tympanostomy tubes help children and adults hear better and improve hearing without long lasting repercussions.

Written by Hadlie Darke-Schreiber at Incisionary

Sources:

Cleveland Clinic. (2022, April 8). Tympanostomy (Ear Tubes). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/15609-ear-tubes-tympanostomy  

Spaw, M., Agarwal, N., & Camacho, M. (2024, March 5). Tympanostomy Tube Insertion. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK565858/