Myringotomy

A myringotomy is a procedure during which an incision is made in the eardrum. This allows the physician to remove fluid that has collected and not drained by natural means. In cases of recurrent ear infections, a tube may be placed in the incision line to provide a prolonged route of drainage. Tubes typically extrude throughout the first year. In cases of recurrent ear infections that have not responded to multiple sets of tubes, an adenoidectomy may also be performed to remove a source of infection in the nasopharynx (back of the nose) that may contribute to recurrent ear infections.