A tympanostomy tube is small tube made of metal or plastic that is inserted during myringotomy to ventilate the middle ear.
Ear tubes, or tympanostomy tubes, are small tubes open at both ends that are inserted into the incisions in the eardrums during a myringotomy.
However, a procedure called myringotomy or tympanostomy may be used for recurrent acute otitis media or secretory otitis media that persists for several months.
It is also called myringocentesis, tympanotomy, tympanostomy, or paracentesis of the tympanic membrane.
Rarely, a small hole may remain in the eardrum after a pressure-equalizing tube (tympanostomy tube) falls out or is removed by a doctor.
Sometimes the doctor may lance a bulging eardrum and place a tympanostomy tube in it to relieve pain and pressure and allow the ear infection to drain before spontaneous rupture occurs.
Tympanostomy tube insertion can also cause perforation.