Inserting and removing ear tubes for ear infections

Working through the ear canal, the surgeon makes a small incision in the eardrum, and a tiny metal or plastic ear tube is inserted into the hole. This ear tube helps to drain the fluid, ventilate the middle ear, and equalize the pressure between the outer ear and the middle ear.

In most cases, there's no need for additional surgery to remove the ear tube. The tube stays in the eardrum for six months to a year, which varies depending on the type of tube used. As the eardrum grows, the ear tube is eventually pushed out into the ear canal where it either falls out of the ear or is retrieved by the doctor.