What to expect when getting ear tubes?

Less infections.: Ear tubes help about 80% of people who get them for recurring ear infections. For most patients who have had tubes placed, no subsequent treatment is necessary unless there is an ear infection and/or drainage. The ENT doctor can tell you what to expect, based on whether the tubes are to be temporary or permanent.

Office procedure: 95% of adults who receive ear tubes in my practice choose to have this done in the office. Under a microscope the ear drum is anaesthetized with topical phenol, a microscopic incision placed, any fluid suctioned from the ear, and a tube placed in the incision. All this takes less than 5 minutes.

??for kids ??: Ear tubes generally refers to insertion of plastic ventilation tubes into the ears if infants have chronic infections.The kids are placed under general anesthesia, the canal cleaned with antiseptic material & a thin knife used to open a hole in the ear drum.Debris is sucked out of the middle ear & the tube inserted & antibiotic drops applied. The kid is awakened & sent home to outpatient followup.