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Tympanostomy
Having
tubes placed in the ears is one of the most commonly performed
surgical procedures. The operation is usually quick, relatively
painless, and rarely associated with complications. Here are some
suggestions to help make things go smoothly.
Before Surgery:
In general, you should not eat or drink within 8 hours of your
scheduled surgery. This may be relaxed a little for certain
procedures but you should double check with your doctor especially
if you have a medical condition that requires food every few hours.
It is important to note that you can still have the surgery even
if you have an ear infection. (Remember - If you
did not have a problem with infections you would not need the
surgery.)
Parents
are allowed in the holding area with their children
until they are ready to go to the operating room. However,
parents are not
allowed in the operating room except for very rare occasions
(prior permission is required). Parents may be allowed
in the recovery room with prior approval. If a parent is
allowed to remain with the child, please, one parent only.
Usually a child does not need any pain medication. If your
child is complaining of discomfort feel free to give Tylenol as
needed.
It is important that following surgery you keep your child's ear
DRY!!! Please use earplugs while showering or bathing.
Swim plugs may be purchased at our office or from your local drug
store for swimming. However custom earplugs are usually
a better fit. Please speak with our Medical Assistant prior
to surgery so a mold of your child's ear can be made and the plugs
made before they will be needed. Please allow at
least 2 weeks for the molds to be made and returned to you.
Call
our office if you have any questions or problems.
Post-Op After
PE Tubes
DIET:
There are no restrictions and the patient can eat anything they
desire.
ACTIVITY:
The only restriction after tubes is to avoid getting water in
the ears. For bathing it is recommended that a cotton
ball small enough to fit the opening of the ear canal dipped
in Vaseline to make the cotton ball somewhat sticky, be used
to keep water out of the ears. Moldable wax earplugs can
also be used, as can silly-putty if it is soft and moldable.
If the silly-putty is hard do not use it. Also, custom-fitted
earplugs can be used, thought they are more expensive than the
other methods mentioned above. However, if the child is
to do any swimming at all it is highly recommended that custom-fitted
earplugs be used. These can be ordered at my office.
FOLLOW-UP:
The patient will normally be seen in the office three weeks
after surgery for the first post-op check, and at that time
the first hearing check will be done. The patient can
be seen anytime sooner if there is a problem. After the
initial follow-up, the patient will be normally checked one
every six months until the tubes fall out or until the tubes
are removed.
SYMPTOMS:
Mild ear pain the first day is not unexpected, and some children
complain that the eardrops seem to sting. Also, it is
not uncommon to have some drainage from the ears for the first
2-3 days after surgery. Dizziness is unusual but does
occur in some patients and usually resolves within 24-48 hours.
Usually within 24-hours, appetite has returned to normal as
well.
MEDICATIONS:
The patient will be discharged with eardrops to be used
as directed. The remainder of the drops should be kept
on hand for possible future use. If the patient gets another
ear infection they will usually drain some pus or bloody pus
from the ear canals. If they do this, you can begin using
the eardrops, as directed above, which will usually correct
the problem. If they run a high fever (greater than 102
degrees orally or 103 degrees rectally) or if they have other
problems, I will want to see the patient.
If you think of
other questions, please ask either the nurse prior to discharge
or call the doctor.
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