Ear tubes--removal?

smynings_bride

We had DD's 4 year check up today (she didn't cry when she received her shots!).  Pedi said her tubes are still in and was surprised by that given that she got them at 20 months.  Pedi suggested consulting with an ENT re getting them removed.  I really don't want to get them removed because they are working so well and I hate to put her through the procedure.  Has anyone else been through this with tubes that just don't fall out on their own?  I'd appreciate any input.

Jcubed2003

My son had one come out on its own and the other was still there at his 4 year check up. Our Pediatrician told us to follow up with the ENT. I took my sweet time in scheduling the ENT consult and it had come out on its own as well by the time we got there earlier this summer. He had his inserted at 13 months. I hope they come out on their own!

bride2003

I never heard of having them removed - is there a reason to do that?  My kids all had them and they were all in for over 3 years. 

northhillsbride

My son had them put in at 11 months. At around age 4, he still had one. So, our ENT did remove it, but it was gunky and "stuck", so he didn't feel it would come out on its own.

It wasn't a procedure - just laid him down on the table and went in with some intrusment and removed it. Gavin did squirm, so I'm sure it was a bit uncomfortable... But Gavin is also my sensitive one, too, so I'm sure that played a part.

rona118

I typed a whole response and the nest ate it. Grrr.

Anyway.... the ENT that put the tubes in wanted to put her under to remove along with her adnoids. Our ped said we should get a second opinion and the 2nd ENT took DD into a room with a big microscope and removed them. She had had in for 2 years. They were stuck in wax.We never did have the adnoids out.

smynings_bride

Thank you all, this is very helpful, I just read the responses to DH.  

erinandrick

Hi.  I don't post here that often, but I wanted to chime in because my daughter had 1 tube fall out and 1 tube stayed in.  We were also advised to see an ENT for removal and ignored the pedi's advice.  Well when she was 10 she had to have surgery to have it removed, because it turned the wrong way and was stuck in her ear, and started to cause problems.  I felt terrible that she had to undergo surgery when it maybe could have easily been removed in the ENT's office.  I would at least call the ENT. 

smynings_bride

Just an update for anyone with a child with tubes still in--one tube fell out on its own but left a hole and one tube was still in.  We went to Children's today for surgery b/c the hole was not closing up and the other tube needed to be pulled and DD would not allow the Dr. to do this while she was awake--she has always had an issue with anyone looking in her ears yet has no issue with shots.  Anyway, after they put her under they saw that the tube that was still in had fallen out and the hole had begun to heal and the other hole, which had not been healing on its own had begun healing.  If the holes were not healing on their own they were going to do a procedure to stimulate the healing and then put an antibiotic patch on it.  We ended up using Dr. Choi at UPMC North/Children's.  She's relatively new to Pittsburgh and is the new ENT department head.  We liked her a lot both with bedside manner and expertise.  My advice would be if your child's tubes have not fallen out after 3 years get an ENT consult to prevent issues with holes later on.