In-Office Ear Tubes Without General Anesthesia: The Hummingbird

Ear infections in children are the most common reason families visit their pediatrician’s office each year in the United States. In fact, 75% of pediatric patients will have at least one ear infection by the time they are 3 years old, and 1 in 15 children will have ear tubes placed.

Ear tube placement is often recommended for children with recurring ear infections. This procedure helps create proper airflow to the middle ear and reduces fluid buildup, while greatly decreasing the likelihood of future ear infections.

Most commonly, ear tube placement is performed in an operating room setting and involves fasting, general anesthesia, and post-recovery care and monitoring. Parents also face the challenge of managing the stress associated with surgery for their child, as well as costs that are often significant.

The Hummingbird Procedure

Pediatric Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists is among the first providers in the U.S. to offer parents an alternative to traditional ear tube surgery.

This innovative approach uses the FDA-cleared Hummingbird® device. It eliminates the need for general anesthesia and moves ear tube placement to the comfort of the office.

Parents may be present during the procedure, which can help make the process less stressful and provide additional comfort to the child.

Benefits of the Hummingbird Procedure

The Hummingbird procedure helps families avoid many of the common risks and challenges associated with traditional ear tube surgery by removing the need for:

Pre-operative testing
Fasting
General anesthesia
Post-recovery care at the hospital, which may take 3–4 hours
Additional operating room and facility fees

Hummingbird In-Office Procedure vs. Traditional Ear Tube Surgery

Hummingbird In-Office Procedure

Topical numbing medicine
No fasting
No post-operative restrictions
Parents may be present during the procedure
Potential cost savings

Traditional Ear Tube Surgery

General anesthesia required
Fasting required
Full day of observation
Parents unable to comfort their child during the procedure
Additional fees for anesthesia, facility, and operating room

A Trusted Procedure

The Hummingbird has been studied extensively and has demonstrated strong performance in clinical studies.

98%

of parents would recommend the procedure to other parents.

98%

of children successfully received ear tubes in their ENT’s office.

Same-Day Procedure

An efficient, same-day procedure, with ear tubes placed in minutes.

100%

of patients acceptably tolerated the procedure, based on independent physician review.

Is the Hummingbird Procedure Right for Your Child?

The Hummingbird offers families a safe, simple, and potentially less expensive option for ear tube placement without general anesthesia.

Contact Pediatric Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists to schedule an appointment. Our team can discuss this option with you and determine whether your child is a candidate for the procedure.

Learn More

Watch a short video about the Hummingbird procedure:

https://www.hummingbirdeartubes.com/parents/hummingbird-procedure/

Here at Pediatric ENT we treat all of our patients with care and offer many services such as:

Or speak directly with one of our Pediatric ENT locations to find out more.