Ogden Clinic | Specialties

Questions and Answers: Ear Tubes

What are ear tubes?

Ear tubes are placed in the ear drum to facilitate ventilation of the middle ear. There are two main indications for placing ear tubes:

Recurrent infections
Chronic fluid buildup in the middle ear, affecting hearing.

Realize that the purpose of tubes is to provide ventilation to the middle ear through the ear drum bypassing the eustachian tube.

How are the tubes places?

Ear tubes are placed in a child under general anesthesia so that the patient does not feel any pain. A microscope is used to carefully placed the tube through a tiny incision in the ear drum.

How do I know the tubes are needed?

Tubes are indicated when the patient has failed other medical interventions such as repeated antibiotic treatment. Usually tubes are recommended with patient has more than 5 ear infections in 12 month period or more than 3 infections in any given season. Tubes also may be needed if the patient cannot clear an ear infection.

Are tubes safe?

Tubes are extremely safe and very rarely have complications. The most common side effect of tubes is chronic ear discharge occurring because fluid continues to drain through the tube. This is managed differently than other ear infections as the patient does not need oral antibiotics but rather needs the ears suctioned clear and ear drops placed. Other potential complications include blockage of tube with repeated ear infections, perforation of the ear drum, and potential of a small calcified start at the site of the tube placement. None of these complications are considered serious or irreversible.

Why do kids tend to get ear infections?

There are 3 main reasons for this. Firstly the anatomy of a child eustachian tube is different than adults. The eustachian tube tends to be more horizontal and allows bacteria to enter the middle ear, therefore leading to more frequent ear infections. The second reason is that kids tend to have large adenoids which are lymphatic tissue that may block the opening of the eustachian tube. Thirdly children are constantly developing their immune system and have to develop immunity to a variety of viral infections that may lead to tubes.

What are other risk factors for getting recurrent ear infections?

The most common risk factor is exposure to a day-care center. This often leads to repeated exposure to viral infections among other children. Other risk factors include exposure to smoking, pacifier use, and sometimes allergies.

How long do the tubes last?

Tubes last anywhere from six months to two years depending on the type of tube placed. Most commonly a small bobbin tube is placed which lasts up to one ear. The tympanic membrane will often shed the tube and close the hole behind it. Very infrequently of tube may need to be removed in the operating room with a graft of the tympanic membrane hole where the tube was removed.

Is anesthesia safe for my child?

Anesthesia among children has been noted to be extremely safe, as these patients tend to be very healthy with very without cardiac or pulmonary problems. The procedure only takes between 10 to 15 minutes. Oftentimes the child wakes up within five to ten minutes after the tubes have been placed.

What restrictions does my child have with tubes?

Most commonly parents need to avoid placing water within the ear canal as this can pass through the tube into the middle ear and cause chronic drainage. During baths a cotton ball with Vaseline is most convenient to prevent water from entering the ear. During the period that kids have tubes most physicians would recommend avoiding swimming or at least diving underwater.