Ear Tubes

What are the risks and complications of this procedure?

Just as there may be benefits to the procedure(s) proposed, medical and surgical procedures also involve risks. These risks include allergic reaction, bleeding, blood clots, infections, adverse side effects of drugs, heart attack, stroke, and even loss of bodily function or life, as well as risks of transfusion reactions and the transmission of infectious disease, including hepatitis and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, from the administration of blood and/or blood components.

There are also particular risks associated with the procedure(s) proposed. These risks include but are not limited to:

Persistent Discharge: This occurs in a significant amount of cases and can usually be treated by your doctor. Prolonged discharge may necessitate removal of the tympanostomy tube. Always notify your doctor if there is discharge from the ear.
Abnormal Tissue Growth: Reaction to the tube may cause the formation of abnormal growth of tissue around the tube’s insertion in the eardrum or behind the eardrum in the middle ear space. In rare cases these tissues may need to be removed by a surgical procedure.
Perforation: Persistent drainage or inflammation around the tube may cause a hole to remain in the eardrum after the tube is removed or falls out. If a perforation does not heal it causes a risk of infection and a decrease in hearing and may require a surgical repair. It is also possible that a tube will not heal and fall out normally. A tube that fails to fall out or moves inward and gets trapped in the middle ear may need to be surgically removed.  
Formation of Scar Tissue: Each time an incision is made in the eardrum there is the formation of some scar tissue. If the procedure needs to be repeated several times enough scarring may occur to have some effect on the hearing.
General Anesthesia: There are risks involved with any anesthesia and you should discuss them with your anesthesiologist.

Before you agree to any operative procedure it is important to remember that each patient is different and that the outcome of any surgical procedure can never be guaranteed. You should understand that there may be complications that have not been mentioned and that it is not possible to anticipate all complications or to answer each and every question. Again, you should be aware that in the practice of medicine unforeseen and unexpected risks or complications not previously discussed may occur. You should also understand that during the course of the proposed procedure(s), unforeseen conditions may be revealed requiring the performance of additional procedures, and such procedures may need to be performed.

Keep in mind that there is no substitute for an open and honest discussion with your own surgeon/physician regarding this procedure.

You should also be given any available treatment alternatives to this procedure by your doctor, some of which may include medication. Be sure to discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor.

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