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Ear Tubes (Myringotomy)
Overview
Many children get ear infections from time to time. Children who have ear infections usually have fluid buildup behind the eardrum.
Ear infections can cause pain and increase the risk of hearing loss. If your child has ear infections often or hearing loss, we may recommend a surgical procedure called myringotomy. It’s one of the most common childhood surgeries.
During this procedure, we insert tiny tubes into your child’s eardrum. This helps to:
- Drain fluid from inside the ear.
- Improve hearing.
- Reduce infection.
- Relieve pressure and pain.
Your child’s hearing usually improves right away. New infections are less likely because fluid can no longer stay in the ear.
The tubes stay in your child’s ears for 12 to 24 months. Usually they fall out on their own. Rarely, we must remove them.
Why It Is Done
We may recommend a myringotomy if your child gets ear infections often or has hearing loss due to fluid in their middle ear (the space behind the eardrum).
Bacteria or viruses can infect the middle ear. Infections can even spread to the ear through the Eustachian tube connecting the back of the nose and throat to the middle ear. If this tube becomes blocked due to infection, fluid can collect in the middle ear. This causes pain, pressure, and muffled hearing.
Young children are more likely to get ear infections than older children and adults. It’s easier for their smaller, narrow Eustachian tubes to become blocked or have trouble opening and closing properly.
Some children get ear infections often, even when they don’t have colds, allergies, or other upper respiratory problems.
How It Is Performed
We perform the procedure in our medical office or an outpatient surgery clinic. For older children, we may be able to use a local anesthetic to numb the area.
For most children we use general anesthesia. It’s given through a mask. Your child will be asleep during the surgery.
During the procedure, we’ll:
- Make a small incision in the eardrum.
- Remove any fluid behind the eardrum through the incision.
- Insert a small medical implant tube into the incision. This tube allows fluid to drain out of the middle ear. It helps prevent future infections.
The implanted tubes usually stay in place for 1 to 2 years. Usually they move from the eardrum to the ear canal and then fall out. Rarely, the tubes stay in for more than 2 years and we remove them surgically.
Recovery
After their procedure, most children:
- Recover quickly and can go home.
- Feel drowsy, weak, or nauseous when waking up, if they’ve had general anesthesia.
- Don’t feel the tubes or any discomfort.
- Return to daycare or school the next day.
Some children have a mild earache for a few hours after surgery. If this happens, you can give them acetaminophen (Tylenol). Follow the instructions on the packaging closely.
Fluid may drain from your child’s ears for a couple of days. You can:
- Wipe it away with dry cotton wool. Don’t squeeze water into the ear.
- Use antibiotic drops, if prescribed to you by your doctor. Throw away unused drops.
If your child’s ear keeps draining for more than 3 days, contact your child’s doctor.
Lifestyle Recommendations
While your child has the ear tubes, it’s okay for them to take a bath or shower and swim (near the water’s surface) without earplugs.
Swimming
Don’t let your child swim until their ear has stopped draining. After that, it’s safe to swim. Pool water typically doesn’t get into the tube.
It may help to have your child use soft ear plugs if they:
- Feel pain in the ear when they swim.
- Have drainage from the ear after swimming.
- Swim in lakes, rivers, or unchlorinated pools.
- Swim underwater for long periods.
Flying
It’s safe for your child to fly with ear tubes in place. Pressure changes occur through the ear tube after ear tube surgery.
Possible Complications
Many children have ear tubes implanted and the procedure is very safe. All surgery has some risk, however. Potential risks and complications include:
- Recurring ear infections or hearing loss (even with tubes in place).
- Eardrum perforation, if the hole in the eardrum doesn’t heal after the tube falls out. Surgery may be needed to repair the hole.
- Complications from anesthesia. This is rare but can be very serious. Your child’s anesthesia clinician can answer any questions you have.
Additional References
Related Health Tools
Disclaimer
If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.