Ear Tube (Ventilation Tube)

Due to the negative pressure, fluid in tissues accumulates in the middle ear vestibule. In the event of the problem becoming chronical, in accordance with the increase of secretion in middle ear mucosa, the accumulated fluid becomes more and more coagulated. Meanwhile, relative to the negative pressure, pushing of the eardrum to the middle ear may end in collapse of the drum and, in the long term, adhesion of the eardrum to the auditory bones and middle ear floor.

It is imperative that these complications be intervened and treated accordingly. Otherwise, they may result in permanent auditory loss or serious middle ear infections. These problems affect especially growing children in terms of speaking and mentality.

There is a necessity for the patients for whom there is no improvement in negative pressure and fluid accumulation in middle ear despite the necessary medical treatments that, in order to prevent the negative air pressure in middle ear, a 2mm hole should be drilled to the eardrum to enable air to enter from outside medium. These holes which are drilled surgically with the aid of microscope generally heal after 7-10 days, closing themselves, and in the cases that this duration is not enough to the process of healing in the mucosa forming the air cells in middle ear and ear bones, the problem reiterates.

In the events of chronical fluid accumulation lasting especially longer that three months and the accumulated fluid being too condensed, the recuperation should be maintained by inserting an ear tube (ventilation tube) to the hole drilled to eardrum. Following this procedure, the collapse in the eardrum may heal and the auditory loss may normalise. Alongside this surgery, if necessary, removing nasal cavity adenoids and tonsils may increase the long-term success rate of the treatment.

A ventilation tube to the eardrum is inserted approximately in 30 minutes under general anaesthesia on children. Ventilation tubes usually last for 6-12 months, falling off by itself or removed by a doctor afterwards.

Through these treatments, most patients usually recover fully, rarely, there may be a need for repeated tube applications or permanent tube application is necessary. Especially in children who have serous otitis, the allergenic and immune system functions should be analysed beforehand.

Children who have a ventilation tube applied to their ears should be observed as water should not escape their middle ear while they are in swimming pools or in bath via obstructing the external auditory canal with an ear plug. In the case of infection and discharge related to the escape of water into the ear canal, the disease may be taken under control with the help of antibiotics prescribed.