A common ear tube removal surgery at surgery center facility in U.S. includes
| |
Units |
Avg Cash price |
Provider |
Ear, nose, & throat doctor visit provider fee
First time visit
Standard
|
1 |
$148 |
Provider fee to repair eardrum
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$372 |
Provider fee to remove implanted eardrum tube under anesthesia
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$79 |
Facility |
Surgery center fee to remove implanted eardrum tube under anesthesia
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$120 |
Surgery center fee to repair eardrum
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$256 |
Prescriptions |
HYDROCODONE-ACETAMINOPHEN
Standard
Standard
|
30 |
$16 |
Anesthesia |
Anesthesiologist fee to be "put under" for procedure
Level 3
Standard
|
1 |
$202 |
Anesthesiologist time to be "put under" for procedure
Per minute
Standard
|
97 |
$194 |
Total average cash price |
|
A common ear tube removal surgery at outpatient hospital facility in U.S. includes
| |
Units |
Avg Cash price |
Provider |
Ear, nose, & throat doctor visit provider fee
First time visit
Standard
|
1 |
$148 |
Provider fee to repair eardrum
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$372 |
Provider fee to remove implanted eardrum tube under anesthesia
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$79 |
Facility |
Outpatient Hospital fee to remove implanted eardrum tube under anesthesia
level 4
Standard
|
1 |
$3,275 |
Outpatient Hospital fee to repair eardrum
level 4
Standard
|
1 |
$1,687 |
Prescriptions |
HYDROCODONE-ACETAMINOPHEN
Standard
Standard
|
30 |
$16 |
Anesthesia |
Anesthesiologist fee to be "put under" for procedure
Level 3
Standard
|
1 |
$202 |
Anesthesiologist time to be "put under" for procedure
Per minute
Standard
|
97 |
$194 |
Total average cash price |
|
Tympanostomy tubes are small tubes made from surgical-grade plastic that are placed into a child’s eardrum. For children with recurrent ear infections, these tubes help drain excess fluid from their ears to reduce the number of infections every year.
Most children will lose their ear tubes naturally 6-18 months after the procedure. However, occasionally the tubes can become trapped in the ear and require surgical removal. If a child still has their ear tubes three years after the initial surgery, it might be time to have ear tube removal surgery.
Ear tubes are removed while the child is under general anesthesia. They will not feel any pain during the procedure. Most children do not need pain medication after surgery. However, if additional procedures are necessary to help restore the eardrum’s membrane, some mild discomfort may be present for a week after the surgery.
Most children with tympanostomy tubes do not need them to be surgically removed because they fall out naturally. The design of some tubes is soft and flexible enough to allow your pediatrician to remove them in their office with the help of specially designed tools. For more rigid tubes, surgery is needed to remove the ear tubes safely.
Ear tube surgery is a quick procedure. When placing tympanostomy tubes, the surgeon needs around 30 minutes to make the small incisions and gently insert the tubes into place.
For ear tube removal, the process takes about the same amount of time. The biggest concern with ear tube removal is the long-term health of the eardrum. The surgeon may do an additional procedure called a myringoplasty to help the eardrum heal. Before deciding on a doctor for your child’s ear tube removal surgery, you can view the average cost of tympanostomy tube removal in your area.
Most children quickly recover from ear tube removal. If ear tubes are removed without surgery, children experience almost no downtime.
For surgical ear tube removal, you should take precautionary measures like avoiding vigorous exercise for a few weeks while the eardrum heals. Children typically don’t experience any pain but will need to protect their ears from water until their follow-up appointment to prevent an ear infection.
Once the child’s eardrum heals, they will feel pressure changes for the first time. Pressure changes often occur with changes in weather or altitude. This may be painful or uncomfortable for them. It will take time for them to adjust to these sensations.
For chronic ear infections, ear tubes remain the most common treatment option. Some specialized pediatric surgeons offer alternative procedures. These include laser tuboplasty and balloon dilation eustachian tuboplasty. These are surgical procedures that correct the middle ear issue by entering the ear canal through the nose and expanding the width of the eustachian tube so it may drain more easily. A personalized health insurance plan can help you cover the cost of these alternative procedures.
About the ear tube removal surgery Average Cash Prices
This procedure is most commonly performed at either a surgery center or an outpatient hospital.
Surgery centers, also known as ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), are independent, licensed medical
facilities that are governed by distinct regulatory requirements compared with a hospital. Procedures
performed at an ASCs are often less expensive than when they are performed at an outpatient hospital,
but they typically offer fewer complimentary services, and may not have the full-range of support
services that a hospital provides.
Outpatient facilities are outpatient departments or clinics that may be within or next to a hospital,
but is owned and run by the affiliated hospital. These facilities can perform surgical treatments and
procedures that do not require an overnight stay. Procedures performed at an outpatient hospital are
often more expensive than when they are performed in an ambulatory surgery center, but outpatient
hospitals may offer more complimentary and support services for patients because they are connected to
the hospital system.
