Healthy Kids: Tula Tubes offer an invasive ear infection treatment for children

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- There's now a new procedure to treat those dreaded ear infections your children are more likely to get this time of year.

Tula Tubes are designed to help treat small children who are dealing with persistent ear infections. It allows them to stay awake and eliminates a trip to the operating room.

"We are definitely getting more questions about this procedure and parents are very interested to hear about an option for tubes to be placed in their children that avoids general anesthesia," says Dr. Rob Keller, ENT physician for Colorado ENT and Allergy. "Every parent gets a little concerned about taking their child to the operating room, even though it is a very quick and easy procedure."

Dr. Keller says children are more likely to get ear infections because the station tube in their ears isn't fully developed and doesn't drain well. Leaving lots of fluid that can easily get infected.

"The kids we are typically choosing to put tubes in typically have fluid in their ears that does not resolve over a three-month period, so that would be one reason to have ear tubes placed in a kid," says Dr. Keller. "The other reason we put them in is a when kids otitis media, or recurrent ear infections. We usually say about three ear infections in six months or four ear infections in a year would make a child a candidate to have ear tubes placed."

The traditional procedure involves placing tubes in the ear in a surgical environment, but now for some kids, it can be done right there in the doctor's office.

"This is really about whether or not a child can tolerate this procedure in the office," says Dr. Keller. "And it is a conversation we have with parents I often ask about how do they do at the dentist. If a child hates being at the dentist and getting their teeth cleaned they may not be too excited to have ear tubes placed in the office even with this new system that is available."

The procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes and since there is no general anesthesia, your child can resume their typical activities the same day.

You can talk to your family doctor or pediatrician to see if Tula Tubes might be a good option for your kid.