ENT & Sleep
Ear Tube Placement (Tympanostomy)
Ear tube placement is a quick outpatient procedure that relieves chronic ear infections and persistent fluid behind the eardrum. A tiny ventilation tube is placed through a small opening, improving hearing and reducing infection risk.
AVERAGE PROCEDURE TIME
10 to 15 minutes
Anesthesia
Brief general or mask anesthesia
Recovery
About 1 hour
Ride home
Required if you receive sedation
Overview
Ear tubes ventilate the middle ear when repeated infections or persistent fluid impair hearing and cause pain.
A tiny opening is made in the eardrum, fluid is suctioned, and a small tube is placed to keep the space aired out. The tube falls out on its own after several months.
Is this right for me?
Candidacy is confirmed after a review of your history, imaging, and medications. Patients we most often treat include those with:
- Three or more ear infections in six months
- Fluid behind the eardrum for more than three months
- Hearing loss or speech delay from persistent fluid
- Ear pain with air travel or pressure changes
What to expect, step by step
Arrival and preparation
You check in with a coordinator, change into a gown, and meet your nurse. Vitals are taken, an IV is started if needed, and your care team reviews the plan and answers questions with your caregiver present.
Microscopic access
Using an operating microscope, a precise opening is made in the eardrum through the ear canal. There are no external incisions.
Tube placement
Fluid is suctioned and the ventilation tube is seated in the eardrum.
Recovery suite
You rest in a private recovery bay while your nurse monitors vitals and comfort. Written instructions are reviewed with you and your caregiver before discharge.
Home the same day
A caregiver drives you home. A member of our team calls the next business day to check on you and confirm your follow-up appointment.
Recovery
Children are usually alert and eating within an hour and return to school the next day.
Use prescribed ear drops as directed and follow water precautions given at discharge.
Risks and what we watch for
Every procedure carries risk. These are the ones we discuss most often for this procedure.
- Bleeding, bruising, or soreness at the access site or incision
- Infection, which is why sterile technique and, when indicated, antibiotics are used
- Reaction to sedation, anesthesia, or contrast dye, monitored continuously by your anesthesia provider
- Incomplete relief of symptoms, or symptoms that return over time
- The need for additional treatment, imaging, or a different procedure
- Rarely, a complication serious enough to require a higher level of care than an outpatient setting provides
We review these with you in detail before you consent, and you can change your mind at any point.
Coverage note
We verify your benefits and give you a written estimate before scheduling.
Prepare for this procedure
- Before your surgery
- The day of your procedure
- Anesthesia and sedation
- Recovery at home and when to call
Frequently asked questions
Do the tubes need to be removed?
Almost always no. They extrude naturally over 9 to 18 months as the eardrum heals.
Can my child swim?
Usually yes. Your surgeon will advise on earplugs for deep water or lake swimming.
Is ear tube placement done as an outpatient procedure?
Yes. It is performed at our ACHC-accredited ambulatory surgery center in The Woodlands, minutes from Tomball and Spring, and patients go home the same day with a caregiver.
Will my insurance cover it?
Coverage depends on your specific plan and benefits. Our team verifies your benefits and gives you a written estimate before anything is scheduled.
Do you offer Spanish-speaking support?
Yes. Bilingual English and Spanish coordination is available from your first call through recovery instructions and follow-up.
