DESCRIPTION OF SURGERY:

Your doctor has determined that you or a child for whom you are legally responsible, has an abnormality of the ear which requires surgery. The operation is called a myringotomy and consists of making an opening in the eardrum and placing a tube through the eardrum

INDICATIONS:

1. Persistent middle ear infection not responding to medical line of treatment.
2. Serous otitis media
3. Eustachian tube dysfunction
4. Neurological complications from otitis media

BENEFITS:

1. Improvement in the hearing
2. Drainage of the middle ear
3. Ventilation of the middle ear

RISKS:

1. Persistent otorrhea: Infection may result in middle part of the ear, which can result in persistent drainage from the ear and prolonged illness.

2. Persistent ventilation tube requiring removal in the Operating Room.

3. Formation of granulation tissue with secondary cholesteatoma.

4. Although it is very unlikely, damage to the tiny sound conducting bones of the ear is possible from this operation. Such damage could result in hearing loss and deafness.

5. The tube that is placed in the ear may become dislodged. This could result in further need of surgery.

6. Very rarely, nerve damage occurs from myringotomy operations. This could result in weakness, pain, and numbness over half the face and the inability to move the muscles on half the face. Nerve damage can also cause permanent loss of hearing and deafness.

7. Dizziness, ringing in the ear and other peculiar sensations in the ear are other uncommon complications of this surgery.

8. Allergic and other bad reactions to one or more of the substances used in the procedure are other very rare complications.

9. In addition to those listed, there may be some unforeseen complications with any operative procedure.

ALTERNATIVES:

There may be alternatives to this surgery available to you, such as the use of medications and delaying surgery. However, these alternative methods carry their own risks of complications and a varying degree of success. Therefore, in those patients in whom myringotomy is indicated, the operation provides the patient with the best chance of successful treatment and the lowest risk of complications.