Recently, there have been published reports of the placement of ear tubes in babies in the office.
The ENTs at Ohio ENT & Allergy Physicians (OENTA) will see ear tube evaluation patients promptly and provide expert guidance to help inform their decision.
Since the 1960s, millions of children have received ear tubes while being placed under a very brief anesthetic (approximately five minutes). Complications from ear tubes, including those related to anesthesia, are extremely rare.
Pros of ear tubes in-office for babies
- It can sometimes be done on the same day.
- It avoids brief general anesthetic.
- Can sometimes avoid NPO, but this is not always the case.
- Potentially reduced cost, with no surgery center facility fee.
Note: Outpatient surgery centers are usually a reasonable cost.
Additionally, the in-office ear tube system may not always be covered by insurance,
which could result in an out-of-pocket expense.
Cons of ear tubes in-office for babies
- It is very difficult to anesthetize the ear. A baby certainly experiences pain, but they cannot report it.
Adult patients who have ear tubes in office can report discomfort, pain, dizziness, and/or distress
and decline having an ear tube replaced in the office if a future tube is required.
- The baby requires restraint. Sometimes, a Velcro papoose restraint system is used. Crying occurs.
It is stressful for the baby and the parent.
- It can be difficult to place the tube in the ideal location because the patient is moving,
which can result in the tube plugging or falling out early.
- In-office, the pus/mucus in the ear cannot easily be flushed and washed out during the procedure.
However, this is something that can be easily done under anesthesia and can be quite helpful in resolving ear infections.
- It is not always successful and may still require a second procedure under general anesthesia.
For more information or help deciding which procedure is best for your child, schedule an appointment with one of our ENTs, and they can help you with this decision!
