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In-office Tympanostomy Tube Placement in Children
Kayvon Sharif1, Shelagh A Cofer1
1Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Mayo Clinic Children's, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Insights
Pediatric ear tube placement can now be done in an office setting without general anesthesia. This approach uses innovative tools and requires an experienced team for successful tympanostomy tube insertion in children.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Office-Based Procedures
Background:
- Tympanostomy tube placement is common in adults, performed in-office without sedation.
- Traditional pediatric ear tube procedures often require general anesthesia.
- New tools enable in-office procedures for children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current status of in-office tympanostomy tube placement for children.
- To highlight the feasibility of performing ear tube procedures without general anesthesia in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Discussion of innovative tools for pediatric tympanostomy tube insertion.
- Emphasis on the importance of an experienced team and workflow.
- Review of shared decision-making processes for procedure setting selection.
Main Results:
- In-office tympanostomy tube placement in children is feasible without sedation.
- Successful outcomes depend on team expertise and established workflows.
- Caregiver and clinician collaboration is crucial for determining the optimal setting.
Conclusions:
- Office-based tympanostomy tube placement is a viable alternative to general anesthesia for children.
- Key factors for success include team experience, workflow, and shared decision-making.
- This approach enhances patient care by offering a less invasive option.
Abstract:
Tympanostomy tube placement is routinely performed in adults in the office setting without sedation and with only topical or locally applied anesthetic. Innovative tools are now available to facilitate placement of tympanostomy tubes in children in the office, rather than under general anesthesia. We discuss the current state of an in-office approach to tympanostomy tube placement in children. An experienced team and a well-defined workflow are key to the successful placement of tympanostomy tubes in children without sedation. Shared decision-making between clinicians and caregivers will help determine the most appropriate setting for their child's ear tube placement.
