Patients typically recover quickly from anesthesia following tympanostomy tubes. A small amount of bloody drainage from the ear is not unusual. You will be provided with antibiotic drops to prevent infection and to prevent the tube from becoming clogged. If your surgeon feels that the fluid in the ear was infected, he may prescribe oral antibiotics as well.
It is important to prevent water from getting into your ears after tympanostomy tubes, as this can lead to an infection. Earplugs should be worn any time water exposure is expected. This includes swimming, and often times for children, in the bathtub. If your ears are exposed to water unexpectedly, the antibiotic drops should be used to prevent infection.
Tympanostomy tubes usually stay in place from 6 to 18 months. If they stay in longer than two to three years, they may need to be surgically removed. It is important to have an ear check-up about every six months during this time period. An audiogram is usually obtained at some point after the ear has healed. The tubes eventually fall out of the eardrum on their own as the ear heals. Some children may have mild discomfort or bloody drainage at this time. The small hole in the eardrum at the old tube site usually heals within several weeks. Your doctor will instruct you when it is safe to allow water in the ears.