Fill in the form to get detailed information and make an appointment, we will contact you.
Ventilation tube and balloon tuboplasty are procedures that are done when the eustachian tube cannot function and in order to drain accumulated fluid behind the eardrum. The eustachian tube helps the fluid in the middle ear flow behind the throat. When the eustachian tube is clogged, the fluid will be trapped in the space in the middle ear. Ear infection, cold, allergy and inflammation may lead to this blockage.
Malfunction of the eustachian tube is a common thing and may cause ear problems in both children and adults. When it is not treated, it leads to serious complications such as permanent hearing loss, eardrum damage or a middle ear cyst that needs to be operated.
What are the Symptoms?
Ear ache, feeling of fullness in the affected ear, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, dizziness and loss of balance can be counted as the symptoms of fluid in the middle ear.
The symptoms may also change from one person to another. Small children may not be able to express the problem. It is difficult to observe the symptoms in children as long as there is no serious pain in the ear.
What is Ventilation Tube?
Ventilation tubes are tiny tubes that are inserted into the eardrum by surgery to help the fluid drain into the ear canal and decrease the risk of ear infection. When the ear is infected, there is fluid retention in the middle ear and it affects the sense of hearing. Sometimes even after the infection is treated, there might be some fluid left in the ear. The inserted tubes prevent the accumulation of fluids and create a way for the fluid to escape.
Who Needs Ventilation Tubes?
Ventilation tubes or balloon tuboplasty is recommended when there is persistent fluid buildup following an ear infection lasting for more than 3 or 4 months, hearing loss for more than 3 months, delay in speech development, and when there are changes in the structure of the eardrum resulting from ear infections.
Fluid retention in the middle ear can be seen at any age but because of the anatomy of the eustachian tube, it is more common among children. The eustachian tube in children is smaller than the one in adults. The problems in the eustachian tube are widely seen in children between the ages of 1 and 3. When children reach the age of 5, they have a longer and wider eustachian tube. That’s why, fluid retention is less common.
What are the Benefits of Ventilation Tubes?
When ear infection is not treated, behavior, sleeping habits and communication of children are negatively affected. The insertion of ventilation tube into the eardrum not only solves these problems but also helps some children hear better and prevents their speech development from being harmed. The ventilation tube also helps the eustachian tube work more efficiently. When children age, the eustachian tube widens and gets longer. As a result, the problem is solved permanently.
What are the Risks?
Even with ear tubes, your child may still get an occasional ear infection. The tubes fall out on their own within a year. If ear infection continues, the tubes need to be replaced with the new ones or if a tube doesn't fall out, it needs to be surgically removed.
Very rarely, after the ventilation tube falls out, there might be a slight scar or space in the eardrum and it needs to be fixed. Sometimes your child may still get an occasional ear infection after the tubes are inserted. In order to prevent a possible infection, after the tube is inserted, antibiotic ear drops should be used.
How is it Inserted?
The doctor makes a tiny incision in the eardrum to reduce the pressure and create a way for the fluid to escape. A tube is inserted in the hole in the eardrum for ventilation and to stop fluid retention. The surgeon suctions out the fluid from the middle ear. The tubes generally fall out in about 6 to 12 months. Ventilation tubes are generally inserted in an outpatient procedure, so the patient is discharged from the hospital within a few hours.
Balloon Tuboplasty
Balloon tuboplasty procedure is done as an alternative to ventilation tube or for patients who couldn’t benefit from ventilation tube treatment. It aims to expand the width of the eustachian tube. In this procedure endoscopic method is used to go into the auditory canal through the nose. The balloon is placed into the nasal opening of the eustachian tube and then briefly inflated.