Question

The mother of a child who had a myringotomy with insertion of tympanostomy tubes calls the nurse and tells the nurse that the tubes fell out. The nurse makes which response to the mother?

a) This is normal; the tubes are designed to fall out on their own.

b) You need to bring your child to the emergency room immediately.

c) Apply antibiotic drops to the ear to prevent infection.

d) The child will need surgery to replace the tubes.

Answer 1

The nurse would inform the mother that it is normal for the tubes to fall out on their own.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse would make the response:

This is normal; the tubes are designed to fall out on their own.

Tympanostomy tubes, also known as ear tubes, are inserted into the eardrum to help drain accumulated fluid in the middle ear and reduce the risk of ear infections. These tubes eventually fall out on their own as the eardrum heals and the middle ear function improves. It is a normal part of the healing process and does not require immediate medical attention. If the tubes fall out prematurely, the child's ENT specialist can assess the situation and determine if further treatment is necessary.