To remove or not to remove: Review of cases of medial migration of tympanostomy tubes

Endoscopic Removal of Medially Migrated Tympanostomy Tube

“…The authors concluded that removal of a migrated tube should be offered to the patients in light of the rare, yet potentially serious complications that could develop many years later, and pointed out the low morbidity associated with surgical removal. 2 To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of using an endoscope for managing this rare complication. Endoscopic ear surgery (EES) offers the possibility of minimally invasive surgery, where even more extensive disease can safely be surgically managed through the external ear canal.…”

“…1 Another likely mechanism occurs in the process of epithelial immigration during cholesteatoma formation, during which squamous epithelium progresses from the margin of a tympanic perforation into the middle ear cleft. 2 Bezdjian et al in a review of literature on MMTT found only 10 reports with total of 29 cases. The authors concluded that removal of a migrated tube should be offered to the patients in light of the rare, yet potentially serious complications that could develop many years later, and pointed out the low morbidity associated with surgical removal.…”

“…The authors concluded that removal of a migrated tube should be offered to the patients in light of the rare, yet potentially serious complications that could develop many years later, and pointed out the low morbidity associated with surgical removal. 2…”

An Incarcerated Grommet within the Ear Drum

“…While Groblewski et al had reported an incident rate of 0-1.1%. The possible mechanisms postulated for migration of a grommet into the middle ear are difficulties in inserting the tube, the development of biofilm on the tubes' medial surface and also eustachian tube dysfunction (3).…”

“…Some of the complications include persistent tympanic membrane perforation, tympanosclerosis, granulation tissue formation, peritubal drum atrophy, scarring, blockage of the tube lumen, premature extrusion, and cholesteatoma. Another significant complication is the medial migration of the tube into the middle ear space (3).…”