From the Guidelines
No, Type A blood is not indicated for bilateral myringotomy with insertion of tubes. This procedure is a surgical intervention for the middle ear where small tubes are placed in both eardrums to ventilate the middle ear and drain fluid, as defined by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in their clinical practice guideline update 1. It does not involve blood transfusion or blood typing considerations. The procedure is typically performed to treat recurrent ear infections, persistent fluid in the middle ear, or hearing loss due to middle ear effusion, with the goal of improving quality of life for children with chronic otitis media with effusion (OME), recurrent acute otitis media (AOM), or both 1. Blood typing (such as Type A, B, AB, or O) is only relevant for procedures requiring blood transfusions or certain transplants, not for this relatively minor ear surgery which is often performed as an outpatient procedure under brief general anesthesia, especially in children. The most recent guidelines from 2022 emphasize the importance of considering hearing status, associated symptoms, and the child’s developmental risk when determining candidacy for tympanostomy tube insertion 1, but do not mention blood type as a factor.
From the Research
Type A Indication for Bilateral Myringotomy with Tube Insertion
- The provided studies do not explicitly mention a "Type A" indication for bilateral myringotomy with tube insertion.
- However, the studies discuss the indications and outcomes of bilateral myringotomy with tube insertion for conditions such as otitis media with effusion and recurrent acute otitis media 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- According to the studies, bilateral myringotomy with tube insertion is a common procedure performed in children to manage these conditions and improve hearing outcomes 2, 4, 6.
- The studies also discuss the importance of postoperative follow-up and the potential risks and complications associated with the procedure, such as perforation, tympanosclerosis, and otorrhea 3, 5, 6.
Relevant Studies
- A study published in 2025 found that manual in-office bilateral myringotomy and tube insertion is a safe, feasible, and cost-effective procedure with high caregiver satisfaction and positive surgical outcomes 2.
- A study published in 1997 found that myringotomy and ventilation tube insertion can lead to hearing loss, perforation, and tympanosclerosis, but the risk of these complications is relatively low 3.
- A study published in 1987 discussed the management of serous and recurrent otitis media, including the use of tympanostomy tubes, and found that chemoprophylaxis and tympanostomy tube insertion can be effective in managing these conditions 4.
- A study published in 2011 found that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization is present in a small percentage of children undergoing bilateral myringotomy and tube insertion, but it is not a significant predictor of postoperative otorrhea 5.
- A study published in 2022 found that insurance type is related to postoperative follow-up attendance and outcomes after bilateral myringotomy with tube insertion, with patients with private insurance being more likely to attend follow-up appointments and less likely to have emergency department visits 6.