Myringotomy With P.e. Tubes

What you should know

• A myringotomy is a procedure to put a tube through a hole in your eardrum. Pressure equalizing (PE) tubes are also called ventilation tubes, drainage tubes, tympanostomy tubes (T-tubes), or grommets. Your eardrum is a thin layer of tissue that divides the middle and outer parts of your ear. The eardrum protects your middle ear and helps you hear.
  
  
• During the procedure, a PE tube is put into a hole made in your eardrum in one or both of your ears. The tube drains fluid out from inside your ear. Over time, the tube will fall out, or be removed by a caregiver. You may need to have this procedure if you have had many ear infections. You also may need this procedure if you have fluid or pressure in your middle ear caused by a blocked eustachian tube. The eustachian tube helps keep the pressure the same on either side of the eardrum. A myringotomy and PE tube may help you hear better. With a PE tube, you may get fewer ear infections, and have less ear pain.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Risks

• You may have an allergy to the anesthesia medicine and have trouble breathing. A nerve may be damaged, which can decrease your ability to taste food after the procedure. After this procedure, you could get an infection and pus may leak from your ear. Tissue near your eardrum may build up and block your PE tube. A scar may cause your eardrum to become stiff. Your eardrum could get a new hole in it, and your ear could bleed. These problems may cause hearing loss. If your PE tube falls out too soon, you may need another procedure to put in a new tube.
  
  
• If you do not have a myringotomy with a PE tube, you may keep having ear infections and pain. Fluid may build up inside your ear and your eardrum could burst (break open). Your hearing may get worse. Call your caregiver if you have questions or concerns about your myringotomy, medicine, or care.

Getting Ready

Before your procedure:

• Ask a family member or friend to drive you home after your myringotomy. Do not drive yourself home.
  
  
• Ask your caregiver if you need to stop using aspirin or any other prescribed or over-the-counter medicine before your procedure or surgery.
  
  
• Bring your medicine bottles or a list of your medicines when you see your caregiver. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to any medicine. Tell your caregiver if you use any herbs, food supplements, or over-the-counter medicine.
  
  
• Your caregiver may test your hearing. Ask your caregiver about this test, and other tests that you may need. Write down the date, time, and location for each test.
  
  
• Your caregiver may give you antibiotic (germ-killing) medicine before your procedure. This medicine helps fight infection and may decrease your ear pain.

The night before your procedure:

• Ask caregivers about directions for eating and drinking.
  
  

The day of your procedure:

• Write down the correct date, time, and location of your procedure.
  
  
• You or a close family member will be asked to sign a legal document called a consent form. It gives caregivers permission to do the procedure or surgery. It also explains the problems that may happen, and your choices. Make sure all your questions are answered before you sign this form.
  
  
• Ask your caregiver before you take any medicine on the day of your surgery. Bring a list of all the medicines you take, or your pill bottles, with you to the hospital. Caregivers will check that your medicines will not interact poorly with the medicine you need for surgery.
  
  
• Caregivers may insert an intravenous tube (IV) into your vein. A vein in the arm is usually chosen. Through the IV tube, you may be given liquids and medicine.
  
  
• An anesthesiologist may talk with you before your myringotomy. This caregiver may give you medicine to make you sleepy before your procedure. Tell your caregiver if you or anyone in your family has had a problem using anesthesia in the past.

Treatment

What will happen:

You will be taken to the procedure room and moved to a table. Your caregiver may give you local anesthesia to numb your ear. You may feel pressure or pushing, but you should not feel pain during the procedure. With local anesthesia, you will be awake during the procedure. If you need to be asleep during the procedure, caregivers will give you general anesthesia. Your caregiver will make a tiny hole in your eardrum. He will drain fluid that is trapped inside your middle ear out through this hole. Your caregiver will put a small PE tube into the hole, and may put antibiotic drops in your ear.

After your procedure:

You will be taken to a room to rest. If you were asleep for your procedure, you will stay there until you are fully awake. Do not get out of bed until caregivers say it is okay. When caregivers see that you are okay, you may go home. If you are staying in the hospital, you will be taken to your room.

Waiting area:

This is an area where your family and friends can wait until you are able to have visitors. Ask your visitors to provide a way to reach them if they leave the waiting area.

Contact a caregiver if

• You cannot make it to your procedure.
  
  
• You have a fever.
  
  
• You have new trouble hearing.
  
  
• You are using antibiotic eardrops and you have hearing loss, a ringing sound in your ear, or you feel dizzy. Do not put more eardrops in your ear until you speak to your caregiver.

Seek Care Immediately if

• Your ear is bleeding.
  
  
• You have severe (very bad) pain in your ear.
  
  
• You suddenly cannot hear at all.

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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.