Myringoplasty

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Myringoplasty, also called tympanoplasty type I, is surgery to fix a perforated tympanic membrane. A perforated tympanic membrane means there is a hole in your eardrum. You may need this surgery if you have chronic otorrhea, which is ear discharge that keeps coming back. A myringoplasty may also be done if you have hearing loss from the hole in your eardrum. During this surgery, caregivers may also need to remove a portion of the bone behind your ear. Removing bone may be done if you have had many past ear infections causing your bone to break down.
  
  
• Caregivers may or may not need to cut open your ear depending on where the hole is located. A graft is used to cover or fill the hole in your eardrum. The graft may be a piece of fascia (hard tissue that covers muscles), skin, fat, or cartilage or its covering. The graft may be taken from another area of your body through a small incision (cut). The graft may also be man-made, from a donor (another person), or an animal. Myringoplasty may help prevent water and germs from entering your inner ear. After your surgery, your hearing may improve and your risk of middle ear infections may be decreased.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

• Keep a list of your medicines: Keep a written list of the medicines you take, the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregivers. Do not take any medicines, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements without first talking to caregivers.
  
  
• Take your medicine as directed: Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your caregiver if you think your medicines are not helping or if you feel you are having side effects. Do not quit taking your medicines until you discuss it with your caregiver.
  
  
• Antibiotics: This medicine is given to prevent you from getting ear infections after surgery. It may be taken by mouth or applied directly into your ear as a liquid (ear drops).
  
  
• Antihistamines: This medicine may help prevent symptoms of allergies, such as sneezing or itching.
  
  
• Corticosteroids: Steroid medicine may be given to decrease inflammation, which is redness, pain, and swelling.
  
  
• Pain medicine: You may be given medicine to take at home to take away or decrease pain. Your caregiver will tell you how much to take and how often to take it. Take the medicine exactly as directed by your caregiver. Do not wait until the pain is too bad before taking your medicine. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it. Tell caregivers if the pain medicine does not help, or if your pain comes back too soon.

Follow-up visit information: Ask your caregiver when to return for follow-up visits. You will need to see your caregiver so he can check your ear. Do not remove your bandage. Your caregiver may remove the bandage inside your ear 3 or 4 weeks after your surgery. You may need many follow-up visits over the next few years. The visits are needed to check your hearing and to check if your ear graft is secure. Make sure to keep all your planned visits with your caregiver. Write down any questions you may have so that you will remember to ask them during your next visit.

Self care: Avoid blowing your nose hard or letting water get into your ear. This will help keep the graft secure and help prevent ear infections.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You get a fever.
  
  
• You have nausea (upset stomach) or vomiting (throwing up).
  
  
• Your stitches come apart.
  
  
• Your surgery site is swollen, red, or has pus coming from it.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your condition or treatment.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You have bleeding from your surgery site that does not stop.
  
  
• You have a headache that does not go away even after taking pain medicine.
  
  
• You have hearing loss that is worse than before your surgery or you cannot hear anything.
  
  
• You have pain in your inner ear or behind your ear.
  
  
• You have trouble making the muscles in your face move.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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