Myringotomy with tubes, post-op care
Your child may have a small amount of blood-tinged
drainage for 1-2 days after the operation. Your child's ear may be slightly sore
for the first several hours after the operation. If he/she has pain, you may
give the recommended dosage of acetaminophen (Tylenol). Drainage is normal for
the first 48 hours after surgery.
Children with a tube in or perforation of the ear drum should not have the
following put in their ear canals: topical pain medications (such as Auralgan™),
wax removal preparations (such as Debrox™, Ceruminex™), "swimmers ear"
preparations, and home remedies such as oil, peroxide, vinegar and alcohol.
Diet and activity
Immediately after surgery, your child will do best with a
liquid diet. When he/she is up and acting normally, a regular diet may be
started. On the day after surgery, your child may return to usual activity,
including school or daycare.
Ear drops
Drops are often prescribed after surgery. Begin using these
drops on the evening of surgery, as directed by your doctor.
Your doctor may recommend additional use of drops if there is drainage for
more than 72 hours after surgery, since persistent drainage is a sign of ongoing
infection. If the drainage continues for more than seven days, or if other
symptoms arise, please call our office.
When using drops, warm first by holding in the hand for a few minutes. After
placing the drops, pump the front of the ear next to the opening of the ear
canal several times. This helps to propel the drops into the canal and through
the tube.
Ear infections
The primary purpose of tubes is to provide additional
ventilation to the ear and thereby decrease the frequency of ear infections.
However, children with tubes can still develop middle ear infections. Drainage
from the ear, which may be thin, thick or blood tinged, is the most common sign.
Your primary care physician can successfully treat these infections. If drainage
persists despite medical therapy, please call our office to make an appointment.
Water precautions
Do your best to prevent bath water from filling your
child's ear canals. The ears should not be completely submerged in water.
However, water splashing on the outer ear should not cause a problem. If your
child does like to place his/her head completely under water in the bath, keep
the water at a very low level.
During hair washing, some children will wear an inflatable visor designed to
keep water off of their face. Other parents simply hold the child's ear down and
cup their hand over the ear as they rinse the hair. Very young children will
often reach up and remove whatever you place in their ears. Most families find
they can successfully observe water precautions without purchasing ear plugs.
However, what works best for each child and family is variable. The following
types of ear protection can also be tried:
- Cotton lightly coated with Vaseline™
- Silicone putty-type ear plugs
- Other types of waterproof ear plugs (eg. Doc Proplugs™)
- Ear Band-It™
- Custom-made ear plugs
If water does get in your child's ears, simply tip his head to each side.
There is an excellent chance that the water will not have gone through the tiny
opening in the tube. However, if you do observe drainage over the next few days,
an infection has most likely developed (see above).