After surgery, your child will be ready to go home about 15 minutes. Your may bring a bottle or snack. All effects of anesthesia will wear off quickly, often after a short nap. Routine activity is allowed as soon as your child is acting normally.
We will give you eardrops immediately after surgery. Floxin Otic and Ciprodex are FDA-approved for use in perforated ears. Do not use any other brand without clearance from our doctor or nurse practitioner. We may instruct you to place drops in each ear, twice a day for two to ten days. Do not be alarmed if you see infected mucus or small amounts of blood draining from the ear after surgery. This is normal. If there is continued or recurrent drainage, you may wipe it away with the corner of a tissue, and continue to use the eardrops for several more days. Do not use Q-tips. If drainage persists for more than a week, please call the office for an appointment for a check up.
Swimming is permitted. We recommend that you avoid intentionally dunking your child’s head in dirty bath water because of the presence of soap and bacteria. A free sample of earplugs may be offered at the time of surgery. Your child is welcome to wear them if desired. For most children, however, earplugs are unnecessary and probably ineffective. Enjoy the water! The tubes will fall out between six months and two years after they have been placed. The eardrums usually heal without further treatment.
Please schedule a postoperative appointment with our nurse practitioner two to three weeks after surgery.
- If hearing loss was identified before surgery, please also schedule a follow-up audiogram with our audiologist.
- We will follow your child with ear and hearing exams every 6 months until the tubes are out and the ears are healed.
Request an Appointment Online or call (804) 622-3782.
In an emergency, or if you have any questions immediately after surgery, please call or text any physician or nurse practitioner on our mobile phone.
- If we are not immediately available, there will be a message directing you to the physician on call.
- If necessary, go directly to the emergency department at Henrico Doctor’s Hospital , which is where we routinely admit inpatients.
- You may also go to the pediatric emergency department at Chippenham Hospital or to KidMed urgent care center in Short Pump.
- After-hours care is also available at several Patient First locations.
In a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the closest emergency room without hesitation.
Fortunately, medical emergencies are very rare after myringotomy alone.