Does Your Child Have Chronic Ear Infections?

While most people have had an ear infection every now and then, many children suffer from frequent ear infections. If a child has an infection more than 4 times yearly, tympanostomy surgery may be a good treatment option. During a tympanostomy placement, an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist insert ear tubes to promote better drainage.

3 Things to Know Before Your FESS surgery

How can ear tubes help?

Due to growing and development processes, children are at a higher risk of ear infections. An ear infection is often a complication of another illness, like the common cold. Because of the angle of children’s ear canals, proper drainage is often more difficult. When fluid builds up in the ears, the result can be swelling, irritation, and pain. The purpose of ear tubes is to open up the ear canal and provide better drainage.

What to expect during surgery

During the tympanostomy placement, an ENT makes a small incision in the eardrum, suctions out fluid, and places the ear tubes into the hole in the eardrum. This procedure typically only takes about 15 minutes and happens in the doctor’s office. Patients typically return home on the same day.

Immediate relief

Most children feel immediately better after an ear tube placement. This is especially true if the reason for the tympanostomy was to treat hearing loss due to fluid buildup. A child may feel a bit groggy from the anesthesia for the rest of the day but will be back to regular activity within 24 hours.

The recovery process

Children will need to return for follow-up appointments 2-4 weeks after surgery, at the direction of the ENT. This appointment is scheduled to ensure that the ear tubes are staying in place and working correctly. Additional check-ups are then scheduled every 4-6 months. In some cases, children may get a prescription for eardrops to help prevent fluid buildup between appointments.

Is removal necessary?

Most of the time, ear tubes stay in place for 6-9 months and then fall out naturally. If the tubes don’t fall out within the recommended timeframe, the ENT may surgically remove the tubes in another simple procedure. Usually, if tubes have not fallen out after 2-3 years, the doctor will recommend removal. In contrast, sometimes ear tubes will fall out sooner than expected and the ENT will have to replace the tubes.

Find treatment for ear infections

For most children, ear tubes significantly decrease the frequency of ear infections. While a child may still have some infections, the treatment makes symptoms milder and less frequent. Once ear tubes are removed or fall out, the hole in the eardrum closes naturally. To learn more about tympanostomy placement, schedule an appointment with an ENT.

Recent Posts

“All staff were wonderful.”

“NO wait time, RN Rebecca answered all questions prior to my visit by phone and again answered all questions and concerns while prepping me.”
“Efficiency of the staff. Courteous, friendly and caring attitude. Excellent office staff. Pleasant surroundings.”
“Rebecca was amazing. I have always had trouble in the past with getting an IV started. I told Rebecca I was concerned about it. She got it on the 1st try – no digging in my arm and NO bruising the next day.”

“I liked that it was so clean. Every staff member was pleasant and easy to talk with.”

“No severe pain – Just a little discomfort – I was asked several times during procedure if I was OK – they showed genuine concern for my well being.”

“Anesthesia staff was outstanding!”

“Experience was amazing. The nurses my son needed at this time couldn’t have been chosen any more perfect. They were supportive and understanding, patient and just great human beings.THANK YOU KINDLY ”
“Dr. Dedhia made everything clear and even scheduled an early follow-up appt so I could get back to work sooner.”
“The nurses were very nice and caring!”
“Efficiency of the staff. Courteous, friendly and caring attitude. Excellent office staff. Pleasant surroundings.”
“Dr. Tupper was amazing! He spent time explaining exactly what he was doing, what I would experience and made sure I was comfortable.”

“Anesthesia staff was outstanding!”

“Amazing nurses, very caring and friendly and put both me and my son at ease.”

“Everyone was friendly and concerned about my comfort. They frequently asked how I was doing, or if I needed something.”

“I can’t say enough about Marcia and the entire team. The care I received was well beyond anything I could have expected.”

“Marcia and staff were excellent and genuinely cared for my well being. Wish I could have taken them home.”

“All staff were wonderful.”

“The nurses were very nice and caring!”

“I liked that it was so clean. Every staff member was pleasant and easy to talk with.”

“Marcia and staff were excellent and genuinely cared for my well being. Wish I could have taken them home.”

“No severe pain – Just a little discomfort – I was asked several times during procedure if I was OK – they showed genuine concern for my well being.”
“Dr. Dedhia made everything clear and even scheduled an early follow-up appt so I could get back to work sooner.”
“Incredibly professional, friendly and confidence of knowing their roles as healthcare employees. Excellent!”

“Everyone was concerned with my comfort.”

“The STAFF from the moment you walk in were the nicest people I’ve encountered at a medical facility.”

“Everyone was friendly and the place was very clean.”

“Dr. Tupper was amazing! He spent time explaining exactly what he was doing, what I would experience and made sure I was comfortable.”
“The staff was very polite, they were excellent. They explained exactly what was going on.”
“The staff was very polite, they were excellent. They explained exactly what was going on.”
“Dr. Best…is the best!”
“Everyone was friendly and concerned about my comfort. They frequently asked how I was doing, or if I needed something.”

“The staff was great, especially Mary and Marcia. Marcia was extremely helpful post-op and made sure I was comfortable and well-cared for.”

“Entire staff was knowledgeable and courteous. They genuinely cared for my well being and made sure my wife and I were taken care of.”

“Entire staff was knowledgeable and courteous. They genuinely cared for my well being and made sure my wife and I were taken care of.”

“Everyone was concerned with my comfort.”

“NO wait time, RN Rebecca answered all questions prior to my visit by phone and again answered all questions and concerns while prepping me.”

“Amazing nurses, very caring and friendly and put both me and my son at ease.”

“The staff was great, especially Mary and Marcia. Marcia was extremely helpful post-op and made sure I was comfortable and well-cared for.”

“Experience was amazing. The nurses my son needed at this time couldn’t have been chosen any more perfect. They were supportive and understanding, patient and just great human beings.THANK YOU KINDLY ”
“Dr. Best…is the best!”

“Everyone was friendly and the place was very clean.”

“Rebecca was amazing. I have always had trouble in the past with getting an IV started. I told Rebecca I was concerned about it. She got it on the 1st try – no digging in my arm and NO bruising the next day.”
“The STAFF from the moment you walk in were the nicest people I’ve encountered at a medical facility.”

“I can’t say enough about Marcia and the entire team. The care I received was well beyond anything I could have expected.”

“Incredibly professional, friendly and confidence of knowing their roles as healthcare employees. Excellent!”

CONTACT US TODAY!

Please contact us with any questions about your treatment at The Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery.

Recent Posts