A myringotomy is a procedure to put a hole in the ear drum. This is done so that fluid trapped in the middle ear can drain out. The fluid may be blood, pus, and/or water. In many cases, a small tube is inserted into the hole in the ear drum. The tube helps to maintain drainage. This surgery is most often done on children, but is sometimes done on adults.
A myringotomy may be done:
After the procedure, pain and/or pressure in the ear due to fluid build-up should be alleviated. Hearing loss due to fluid build-up should improve as well.
Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a myringotomy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:
Your doctor will likely do the following:
Leading up to your procedure:
General anesthesia is most often used. You will be asleep. In some cases, a local anesthetic will be used to numb the ear.
A small microscope is placed in position to give the doctor a better view. A tiny incision will be made in the eardrum. Fluid from the middle ear will then be drained. In most cases, a small tube will be inserted and left in place. This will allow the drainage to continue.
No stitches will be used to close the incision. The incision will heal itself. The procedure is often done on both ears. Some doctors may use a laser beam to make the opening in the ear drum.
The surgery will last about 15–20 minutes.
Anesthesia prevents pain during surgery. You may have minor pain after surgery. Your doctor can give you pain medicine or recommend a nonprescription pain reliever to manage this discomfort. Also, lidocaine ear drops may be given to decrease pain.
If ear tubes are inserted, you may feel popping, pulsation, clicking, or minor pain when burping, chewing, or yawning until the ear heals around the tubes.
After the procedure, be sure to follow your doctor's instructions, which may include:
Complete healing without complications should occur within four weeks. If ear tubes were inserted, they should fall out within 6-12 months. In some cases, surgery to remove the ear tubes may be necessary. Most ear drums heal normally after tubes come out, but visible scarring is not unusual.
After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:
RESOURCES:
American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org/
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Society of Otolaryngology
http://www.entcanada.org/10public.asp
Hospital for Sick Children
http://www.sickkids.ca
References:
Baylor College of Medicine Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Communicative Sciences website. Available at: http://www.bcm.edu/oto/.
The University of Chicago Children's Hospital website. Available at: http://www.uchicagokidshospital.org/.
Last reviewed November 2009 by Elie Edmond Rebiez, MD, FACS
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2007 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.