Myringotomy with tympanostomy tube insertion is among the most common pediatric operative procedures and is indicated to provide ventilation of the middle ear. Surgical incision in the tympanic membrane (myringotomy) is followed by tympanostomy tube insertion to prevent premature closure of the incision site. The goal of the procedure is to reduce the frequency, duration, and severity of subsequent otitis media episodes and to prevent recurrence of middle ear effusions.
Soham Roy (University of Texas at Houston Medical School)
Thomas Mitchell (University of Texas at Houston Medical School)
Myringotomy with Tympanostomy Tube Insertion: The tympanic membrane is visualized with a microscope through a speculum placed in the external auditory canal. Cerumen may need to be removed to achieve sufficient visualization. The membrane is incised using a myringotomy knife - this incision is typically placed in the anterior-inferior quadrant of the tympanic membrane, although it may also be in the anterior-superior area. If an effusion is present, suction is employed to aspirate the effusion. Finally, a tympanostomy tube is introduced and the flange is inserted through the incision in the tympanic membrane. Saline or antibiotic drops may be instilled to conclude.
Recurrent or refractory acute otitis media, conductive hearing loss associated with middle ear effusion.
Vascular anomalies in the middle ear, intratympanic glomus tumor, prior radiation to ear (possible)
The patient is subject to local or general anesthesia. A microscope is focused on the external auditory meatus. A speculum is placed into the external auditory canal and cerumen is removed so that the tympanic membrane can be visualized.
Pneumatic otoscopy, audiology with tympanometry
The incision in the tympanic membrane should not be placed in the posterosuperior quadrant due to risk of injury to the bony ossicles and/or chorda tympani nerve. Incisions are commonly made in either anterior quadrant.
Tympanostomy tubes do not ¢ïïcure¢ïï otitis media, but they have been proven to reduce the frequency, duration, and severity of episodes for a majority of patients.
Rosenfeld RM, Schwartz SR, Pynnonen MA et al. Clinical practice guideline: tympanostomy tubes in children. Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. 2013 July; 149(1):8-16
Review Myringotomy with Tympanostomy Tube Insertion. Cancel reply
Related Videos
This video shows a transotic approach for a cochlear schwannoma in a 59-year-old female who presented with sudden sensorineural hearing loss in her left three years prior. She was found to have subsequent growth of her tumor on imaging and elected to undergo surgery. The transotic approach is a valuable approach within the armamentarium of a skull base team and differs from the transcochlear approach in the handling of the facial nerve. Techniques for ear canal overclosure, eustachian tube packing and mastoid obliteration are also highlighted.
Here, we have a 39 yrs old female with complaints of noisy breathing for last two years post thyroidectomy. Flexible laryngoscopy confirmed bilateral vocal cord paralysis. She was planned for coblation assisted cordectomy.
Patient was taken up for procedure under general anaesthesia. She also started having stridor after induction. Nasopharyngeal intubation with spontaneous breathing technique was used. Entropy leads were placed over forehead to monitor the depth of anaesthesia. Tube position was confirmed with endoscopic view and Benjamin lindohlm laryngoscope was suspended. As the patient was spontaneously breathing, the stridor became more prominent, with stable vitals and the procedure was continued. The vocal cord retractor was fixed and coblation wand was then used with 7:3 settings for ablation and coagulation respectively. The surgical limits were-anteriorly the junction between ant 2/3 and post 1/3 of the vocal cord, posteriorly just anterior to the vocal process of arytenoid to prevent cartilage exposure and post operative granulations. Superely till the ventricle and inferioly till the medial most surface of the subglottis. Laterally approx. 5 mm depth was defined to prevent injury to the superior laryngeal artery branch and further bleeding. Once the final airway was achieved , the topical lignocaine was used to prevent laryngeal spasm post extubation.
The patient was shifted to the ward without oxygen, the voice was assessed on post op day 2.
Patient was called for follow up on post op day 14th and good voice outcomes were achieved.
So lets have a look on some tips & tricks for the safe procedure—–
Nasopharyngeal insufflation technique with entropy monitor will give adequate and safe surgical field
2. Appropriate exposure will help you to delineate the surgical margins
3. Topical anaesthesia before and after the procedure will prevent sudden laryngeal spasm
4. Firm holding of coblation device will help to prevent injury to surrounding structures like anterior 2/3 vocal cord, opposite side vocal cord, medial surface of vocal cord or aryteroid posteriorly
5. Do not ablate more laterally to prevent bleeding, if at all it happens, use patties or coagulation switch for hemostasis.
6. And at the end of the procedure ,use catheter suction to suck out blood clots or saline from the airway if any….
To Conclude-Coblation Assisted Cordectomy( CAC) can be performed safely with good outcomes in case of bilateral vocal cord paralysis using tubeless anesthesia technique without tracheostomy !
Review Myringotomy with Tympanostomy Tube Insertion.