Parents: no need to fear, ear tube surgery is here

Ear tube surgeries are one of the most common operations in children. This common pediatric procedure is often painless and has little to no discomfort. However, a child who is having constant ear infections may or may not require surgery.
"There are two main reasons a child would require ear tubes," says Daniel Bruegger, MD, chief, Otorhinolaryngology at Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. "Children with recurrent ear infections or prolonged middle ear fluid would be candidates for ear tube surgery."
Surgery to place ear tubes in a child's ears requires minimal anesthesia and takes five to 10 minutes. The tubes are inserted through a small incision in the ear drum. The tubes are about one millimeter in diameter. Recovery time after the procedure is minimal; the child will be feeling normal just hours after surgery.
Children who have ear tube surgery experience little to no change in their normal routine, says Dr. Bruegger.
"It is scary for many parents to find out that your child may need surgery," says Dr. Bruegger. "But, if the advantages far outweigh the risks, and the child will be having fewer infections or pain, thus helping your child feel better … it is worth it."