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Pressure Equalization Tubes (PE Tubes)
- Children are generally irritable and disoriented as they awake from general anesthesia. This phase typically lasts for 30-60 minutes.
- Some children will have nausea and vomiting as they awake. This phase may last up to a few hours. Occasionally the adenoid wound will ooze a small amount of blood for a short time, which may be vomited up.
- Expect to see cotton balls in the ear canals of your child. Occasionally the ears will have some bleeding after the procedure. A small amount of bloody drainage is common with the seriously inflamed ears, but this bleeding is only in small amounts, and stops within 24 hours.
- You may begin using ear drops approximately three weeks after surgery, or earlier if greenish drainage develops. Please use the antibiotic ear drops as given or prescribed (3-4 drops in the ear which surgery was performed, 3 times a day for 3 days.) Store the ear drops in a cool, dark place until it expires, as it may be used to treat future infections in the unlikely event they occur.
- Of note, only a few patients will experience complications from water exposure; therefore, St. Joseph’s Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic does not recommend any special water precautions (ear plugs), unless the patient experiences pain or drainage within 24 hours of such exposure. Please contact the clinic if this occurs.
- If there are any questions or concerns, please contact St. Joseph’s Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic at (208)777-1320.
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