Myoringtonomy

Instructions

1. After tubes have been placed, use antibiotic ear drops (4 drops in each ear 3 times daily for 3 - 5 days, or as directed by your surgeon.
2. A small amount of bloody drainage is not unusual during the first few days after the operation. Brisk bleeding should be reported to the doctor.
3. Tylenol should be sufficient for postoperative discomfort.
4. It is important that water be prevented from entering the ear canal because this can lead to infection. Your doctor may recommend that the ear canals be kept dry when bathing or swimming by using earplugs.
5. If ear canals accidentally get wet, insert 4 drops of antibiotic drops once that day to prevent infection.
6. Ear infections after tube placement should be less frequent and less severe. Foul smelling drainage, ear pain, or bleeding should alert one to the possibility of an ear infection.

If there are problems within the first 30 days following tube placement, the ear, nose, & throat specialist should be notified so that he can arrange evaluation. Unless otherwise specified by your primary care physician (family practitioner or pediatrician), problems that develop after 30 days of tube placement are usually handled by the primary care physician to maintain continuity of care. Your ear, nose, and throat specialist is always available should your primary care physician feel that the problem needs special attention.

1. It is not unusual for bloody drainage to occur with an ear infection or when tubes extrude from the tympanic membrane. If bloody drainage occurs, antibiotic eardrops should be started (4 drops three times daily) and the doctor should be notified within 48 hours.
2. Patients are required to follow up with their ear, nose, and throat physician every 6 months for routine tube checks. These are extremely important to make sure that the tubes are functioning properly and that there are no complications related to placement of the ventilation tubes. It is the patient's or parent's responsibility to make sure they keep these tube check appointments. As mentioned above, problems, which develop between tube, check appointments are most appropriately handled by the primary care physician.
3. Never put arty object or liquid (other than that prescribed by your doctor) into your ears.
4. Most ear tubes are temporary (lasting between 6 - 18 months) and fall out on their own. If a tube is noticed in the ear canal, it should be removed by the doctor.
5. The initial follow-up visit is scheduled with the doctor 2 - 3 weeks following the surgery. Please call to confirm your follow-up appointment.

Risks and Complications

Tonsils and adenoids are lymphoid tissue of the pharynx. The tonsils are in the oropharynx (the part of the throat between the palate and the tongue base). The adenoid pad is in the nasopharynx (the part of the throat that extends into the back of the nose). Although the tonsils and adenoids are considered to be part of the immune system, there is no evidence to suggest that removal of this tissue has any adverse effects on the immune system and the ability to fight infection.

Tonsillectomy is performed for a number of reasons including chronic infections, airway obstruction or an asymmetric enlargement of tonsillar tissue. Adenoids are removed for a number of reasons including chronic infections, nasal obstruction and chronic ear infections. The tonsils are sometimes removed without adenoids, and adenoidectomy is occasionally performed without tonsillectomy, depending on the indications for surgery.

The risks of adenoidectomy include: bleeding, infection, risk of anesthesia, as well as nasal regurgitation. Nasal regurgitation can cause difficulty swallowing as well as change in voice quality. Nasal regurgitation is a rare complication of adenoidectomy and is usually temporary. The risks of tonsillectomy include bleeding, infection, changes in voice quality, change in taste sensation, as well as the risk of anesthesia. Approximately 2% of people will have bleeding after tonsillectomy. This usually occurs between five and seven days after surgery. Patients with bleeding may have to be taken back to the operating room for control of bleeding.

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