Tympanostomy tube

A tympanostomy tube (also known as a grommet, ear tube, pressure equalization tube, PE tube or myringotomy tube) is a small tube inserted into the eardrum in order to keep the middle ear aerated for a prolonged period of time, and to prevent the accumulation of mucus in the middle ear. The operation to insert the tube involves a myringotomy. The tube itself is made in a variety of designs. The most commonly used type is shaped like a grommet or T. When it is necessary to keep the middle ear ventilated for a very long period, a "T"-shaped tube may be used. Materials used to construct the tube are most often plastics such as silicone or Teflon. Stainless steel tubes exist, but are no longer in frequent use.

Although myringotomy with tube insertion can be performed under local anesthesia during a regular doctor's appointment in co-operative adults, patients requiring tube insertion are very often young children. Since damage to the ear is possible unless the patient stays quite still while being manipulated, for any patient who may have difficulty lying still during the procedure, myringotomy and tube insertion is performed under a brief general anesthesia.

The insertion of tympanostomy tubes is one of the most common surgical procedures performed on children. In the USA, it is the most common reason for a child to undergo a general anaesthetic.^[1] T-Tubes can last up to 5 years or more. When the tubes are released from the ear, it is usually covered in a mini- goiter of wax. Nausea and vomiting is very common when the tubes fall out. (Due to equilibrium that may need to pressurize the balance of the ear) It may last for up to 48 hours on some occasions.

Tympanostomy tubes generally remain in the eardrum for some period of time, ranging from 2 years to 5 years, before spontaneously falling out of the eardrum. The eardrum usually (but not always) closes without a residual hole at the tube site.

Tubes of a style more permanent than typically used in the United States. These tubes remained in place for 4 years until one spontaneously left ear drum, and the other was removed with tweezers after having partially disengaged from ear drum. There was significant pain for 3-5 minutes, during removal of the second tube. Note that these tubes are designed to stay in the ear drum for multiple seasons, compared to the ones shown above with smaller flanges.

Long term studies have called the necessity of routine ear tube surgery into question^[2][3].

See also

• Otitis media

References

1. ^ Vaile L. Williamson T. Waddell A. Taylor G. Interventions for ear discharge associated with grommets (ventilation tubes)
2. ^ [1]
3. ^ [2]

This medical treatment-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Audiology Diseases of middle ear and mastoid Pediatrics Surgery Medical treatment stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную? Beauty and the Beast (musical) Lander (crater) Look at other dictionaries: Tympanostomy tube — A small plastic tube inserted into the eardrum to keep the middle ear aerated for a prolonged period of time. These ventilating tubes usually remain in place for 6 months to several years. Eventually, they move out of the eardrum (extrude) and… …   Medical dictionary Tube — A long hollow cylinder. There are many tube like structures in the human body, such as the auditory tube (Eustachian tube) in the ear. * * * 1. A hollow cylindrical structure or canal. 2. A hollow cylinder or pipe. SYN: tuba [TA]. [L. tubus]… …   Medical dictionary Tube, ear — A small plastic tube inserted into the eardrum to keep the middle ear aerated for a prolonged period of time. These ventilating tubes usually remain in place for 6 months to several years. Eventually, they move out of the eardrum (extrude) and… …   Medical dictionary Tube, tympanostomy — A small plastic tube inserted into the eardrum to keep the middle ear aerated for a prolonged period of time. These ventilating tubes usually remain in place for 6 months to several years. Eventually, they move out of the eardrum (extrude) and… …   Medical dictionary ventilation tube — a tube inserted after myringotomy in chronic cases of middle ear effusion, such as in secretory or mucoid otitis media; it provides ventilation and drainage for the middle ear during healing. Called also tympanostomy t …   Medical dictionary Tympanosclerosis — Classification and external resources ICD 10 H74.0 ICD 9 385.0 Tympanosclerosis (also known as …   Wikipedia Otitis media — Classification and external resources A view of the tympanic membrane showing acute otitis media ICD 10 H …   Wikipedia Cleft lip and palate — For other uses, see Cleft. Cleft lip and palate Classification and external resources …   Wikipedia Grommet — For animated character, see Gromit. For the juvenile sportsperson, see grommet (sportsperson). Eyelet redirects here. For its homophone, see islet. Some rubber grommets. A grommet is a ring inserted into a hole through thin material, such as… …   Wikipedia Myringotomy — A surgically placed tiny incision in the eardrum. Any fluid behind the eardrum can then drain and usually thickened secretions can be removed. A small plastic ear tube (a tympanostomy tube) is often inserted into the eardrum to keep the middle… …   Medical dictionary 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”