Ep. 183 Office-Based Ear Tubes in Children with Dr. Shelagh Cofer

BackTable ENT

Given that recurrent otitis media can expose children to hearing loss, delayed speech development, and repeated antibiotic use, it is not at all surprising that ear tube insertion is the most common ambulatory procedure performed in the United States. But what if there was a way to insert ear tubes in children without going to the operating room? In this episode, host Dr. Ashley Agan speaks with Dr. Shelagh Cofer, pediatric otolaryngologist at the Mayo Clinic, about the Hummingbird Tympanostomy Tube insertion system.

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SYNPOSIS

First, Dr. Cofer reviews the epidemiology of pediatric otitis media. When a child has 3 ear infections in three months or 5-7 in a year, tympanostomy tubes are indicated. Wanting to facilitate this procedure, Dr. Cofer brought the in-office Hummingbird tympanostomy tube system to her practice as one of the principal investigators in the clinical trials. After reviewing how the device was developed, she walks listeners through how she uses it, including how to avoid pitfalls such as “dunking” a tube. Finally, she shares feedback from parents whose children had ear tubes inserted using the Hummingbird system.

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Introduction

02:25 - Ear Infections & Ear Tubes

09:34 - Selecting Patients for In-Office Ear Tube Placement

15:50 - Inserting Ear Tubes in the Office: A Step-by-Step Guide

34:33 - Benefits of In-Office Ear Tube Placement

42:35 - Avoiding & Mitigating Complications from Ear Tube Insertion

56:23 - Parent Feedback on the Hummingbird System

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RESOURCES

Dr. Shelagh Cofer’s Mayo Clinic Profile: https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/cofer-shelagh-a-m-d/bio-20055176

Hummingbird TTS Website:

https://www.hummingbirdeartubes.com/