Office myringotomy and ventilation tube insertion using 10% Xylocaine aerosol

Acquiring adequate, safe and painless local anesthesia of the tympanic membrane for the purpose of myringotomy with or without insertion of a middle ear ventilating tube has been a challenge for the otologist. A simple technique using 10% Xylocaine aerosol has been successfully employed in 74 adults to perform this procedure in the office. No complications or side-effects were encountered. This method not only avoids the pain associated with local infiltration of anesthetics, but has made iontophoresis unnecessary.