Tympanostomy Tube Insertion

Excerpt

Tympanostomy tubes are small, cylindrical devices inserted into the eardrum to facilitate fluid drainage from the middle ear and equalize pressure between the middle ear and the external environment. This minor surgical procedure, often performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia, is 1 of the most frequently performed surgeries in children. In the United States (US), tympanostomy tube insertion is the most common ambulatory surgery performed on children younger than 15 years, with nearly 667,000 cases performed in 2006. More than 8% of all children in the US will undergo tympanostomy tube placement at least once by age 3 years; approximately 20% will require the insertion of a second set of tympanostomy tubes during their lifetime.

Tympanostomy tube insertion is primarily indicated for conditions such as recurrent acute otitis media (AOM), chronic otitis media with effusion (OME), and persistent middle ear infections that fail to respond to conservative management. Otitis media is the second-most common ailment diagnosed in children and is more prevalent in children younger than 7 years of age due to their comparatively underdeveloped immune systems and compromised eustachian tube function. Tympanostomy tubes aim to alleviate symptoms, improve hearing, and prevent complications associated with prolonged middle ear fluid accumulation, such as conductive hearing loss and recurrent infections.