I feel your pain! I have never had this done but I have had four vasovagal episodes now, two of which ended up in me fainting. You did a great job being brave, and points to you for speaking up!
For all the comments about not wearing gloves - I work in healthcare, and I’ve also had ear tubes put in, the reason it is often better to not wear gloves with this is that the doctor needs to have a better grip on the tools he’s using! With gloves it can be more dangerous since he could lose grip when making the incision in the eardrum etc. Since he’s not touching directly on the patient it is totally appropriate and probably better he not wear gloves.
This happened to me after my ear tube was put in last week. Except I freaked out and got up too soon, fainted, threw up, and told my doctor “I think I’m dying” LOL it was crazy! I had never experienced that before!
Why did he touch it bare handed? He had just rubbed the side of his nose, then adjusts it without gloves. Doesn't seem very sterile especially when ears are not sterile to begin with
I had a vasovagal episode during a lumbar steroid epidural. Weirdest feeling ever, in all of my subsequent epidural injections I make sure I take deep even breaths and I haven't had one since. It is very very unnerving though. The patient handled it very well.
that tube looks big on camera but i promise guys it is amazingly small i know first hand i had many many many tubes put in my ears as a kid and when i was 18 the ear doc gave me a choice for stronger tubes that might cause more issues or help or leave it alone and that i did so my ear drum would be the same as hers very scarred
Is the vasovagal response more physical or psychological or a combination of both? I've experienced it on more than one occasion. Most of the time, I attribute it to low blood sugar or something similar.
The Age of Fabulous, gloves would be worn for one of two reasons. It is either to keep from being contaminated by the patient or using sterile gloves to keep from contaminating the patient. Dr Fife never touched the end of any instruments that were inside the ear canal after they had been in the canal, so he was not contaminated by the fluid in the middle ear or the eardrum. There was not concern of him introducing contamination inside the middle ear, because the tube he was placing is the very treatment that allows drainage to keep an infection from remaining in the middle ear. Of course he washes his hands before and after the procedure.
Auburn Medical Group , I'm sorry Doctor, but I steel think he should we're gloves. He touches his nose just seconds before he holds the tube which goes inside hear ear drums... I wouldn't like if I were the patient. Apart from this case, I love your work and the way you say to stay in good health!!! Every time you say that I always say it mentally "you too!!!". Kisses from São Paulo - Brasil.
For my ear tube my myringotomy / ear tube placement procedure my doctor didn’t wear gloves either - specifically because it provides better grip with the tools, you don’t want your doctor to lose grip while creating the hole in your ear drum lol!!!
I had so many ear infections as a kid it was crazy! I was told by a doctor when I was 20 that my ear drum is extremely scarred up. Not sure why my parents didn't have tubes put in? I remember how painful it was waiting for my ear drum to burst from the fluid and pressure. My dad would put ear drops in my ears and I would fight him bc I hated how it felt. To this day I can't put in ear drops or get water in my ears! Psychologically scarred me lol evening watching this procedure made me feel squirmy. Very interesting though!
Such a delicate and fiddly procedure! Can you explain what the "episode" was and the causes of it, the doctor called it a vasowhatchamacallit and I don't speak doctor that well anymore and I'm sure many others watching didn't understand the terminology. He said it happened to him as a resident and there's nothing you can do about it so I was just wondering why? And why would this happen during this procedure? X Claire X
I might have to look into this treatment. I get ear infections every two or three months like clockwork. Hearing loss will last for a few weeks at a time. I've been like this since I was a toddler.
+Lanie Leigh gloves would be worn for one of two reasons. It is either to keep from being contaminated by the patient or using sterile gloves to keep from contaminating the patient. Dr Fife never touched the end of any instruments that were inside the ear canal after they had been in the canal, so he was not contaminated by the fluid in the middle ear or the eardrum. There was not concern of him introducing contamination inside the middle ear, because the tube he was placing is the very treatment that allows drainage to keep an infection from remaining in the middle ear. Of course he washes his hands before and after the procedure.
Geez... this isn’t that scene in ET where everyone has to wear head to toe sterile suits after first walking through a decontamination room. You guys are crazy. Do you know how much bacteria is just floating around your body at any given moment?? I mean there were at least 4 people in this small exam room. Did you know most chefs prefer (and do) use bare hands to prepare food that you ingest many times daily? Science. ;)
webjieuyrwf delafuente, gloves would be worn for one of two reasons. It is either to keep from being contaminated by the patient or using sterile gloves to keep from contaminating the patient. Dr Fife never touched the end of any instruments that were inside the ear canal after they had been in the canal, so he was not contaminated by the fluid in the middle ear or the eardrum. There was not concern of him introducing contamination inside the middle ear, because the tube he was placing is the very treatment that allows drainage to keep an infection from remaining in the middle ear. Of course he washes his hands before and after the procedure.
No gloves??? I had 2 bone marrow transplants and the doctors wouldn't even walk in my hospital room without gloves and full gowns even if they where just observing.
Oh wow, that was an unexpected event...I wasn't aware that a myringotomy could bring forth those vasovagal symptoms like they did with her, but it was definitely something that was just out of her control and her body was just reacting to the procedure by "preparing the flood gates" and shunting blood away from the head. I understand just how she was feeling because my cardiac pacemaker was actually implanted for neurocardiogenic syncope that after time managed to convert into second-degree heartblock and my pulse rate dropped to 29 bpm. It took two different tilt table tests to record it happening and when my heart couldn't find an escape rhythm a code team came in and slapped the big ol' shock pads on my back and front as a precaution and I stayed in that particular rhythm for a solid 5 hours. My cardiologist said it would be a good idea to let the hospital keep me overnight for observations but eventually said "meet me in the E.D. lobby at 5am" and he took some extra time out of his own day to perform an early-morning surgery to place a pacemaker the very next day. He is a very good family friend and I was living with my mother (a nurse in OBGYN surgery as well as head nurse on certain days) so she knew exactly what to do in case it happened again before I was to meet with the doctor in the morning - trendelenburg position, ice cold packs to my forehead and back of neck - and come back to the ER if the episode lasted for longer than 20 minutes. From that point everything was smooth sailing and I had my surgery, but I had to sleep in the same bed as my parents that night and kept getting woken up every 2 hours with a violent shake hearing "you still there!?" Implant took 45 minutes, I was fully awake and having conversations with all of the nurses who my mom begged to sit in on. I was discharged with a little too much oxycodone for my comfort but I didn't even end up taking a single pill since the only time I had pain two tramadol took it right away and I was fine. Long story short, vasovagal reactions can be very benign in nature and just require a sip of water or having to lie down but in a small number of people they can come with severe consequences because of the nature of the vagus nerve and the purposes it serves. I found out the hard way but my case probably happens in one out of every 10,000 people.
Indeed it was...to be frank I'm surprised I remember as much of it as I do. I have vague memories of him looking at me and saying "I've seen this happen from implanted loop recorders but have never witnessed it firsthand before." Luckily it was a simple fix...a Medtronic Revo MRI SureScan pacemaker and $40k in surgery costs being paid by my insurance provider.
Is it normal to encounter ear ringing after the procedure? I had this done today and the ear ringing is gone but after they put the tube. The ear ringing is comeback and it’s high but the good thing is i feel relief. I was wondering it’s because of the tube but the doctor said he will remove it after 7 days.
Does the patient have to avoid getting water in her ears after the tube is placed? I would think that tube would allow water to enter behind the ear drum.
+lindsey smith gloves would be worn for one of two reasons. It is either to keep from being contaminated by the patient or using sterile gloves to keep from contaminating the patient. Dr Fife never touched the end of any instruments that were inside the ear canal after they had been in the canal, so he was not contaminated by the fluid in the middle ear or the eardrum. There was not concern of him introducing contamination inside the middle ear, because the tube he was placing is the very treatment that allows drainage to keep an infection from remaining in the middle ear. Of course he washes his hands before and after the procedure.
Are they the tubes they put in "kids" ears when they get a lot of ear infections? If so, it's no longer a day surgery type of procedure? More than once the drs said if I got one more infection this year I was getting tubes-but some how I didn't get another ear infection that year.
OK....I haven't watched the whole video, yet...I'm at 5:49...but, could he have been able to insert the tube w/the "alligator" forceps? I would think that would allow him more control
+VampFlirt you have no ability to tilt the angle of the tube to guide it into and through the tympanic membrane with forceps. They could be used if we just had to push the tube straight in, but you can't use an incision large enough to get both sides of the inserted end of the tube through at the same time. That would not hold the tube in place.
+Auburn Medical Group Thank you for answering my question! I love learning new things....now that you explained it, it makes perfect sense. Thanks, again....have a great weekend! :)
+April Lemons gloves would be worn for one of two reasons. It is either to keep from being contaminated by the patient or using sterile gloves to keep from contaminating the patient. Dr Fife never touched the end of any instruments that were inside the ear canal after they had been in the canal, so he was not contaminated by the fluid in the middle ear or the eardrum. There was not concern of him introducing contamination inside the middle ear, because the tube he was placing is the very treatment that allows drainage to keep an infection from remaining in the middle ear. Of course he washes his hands before and after the procedure.
I might have a vaso-vagal episode if I had Dr. Fife working on me, too.
BEST COMMENT!
He looks a little like Bradley Cooper, doesn't he? Or maybe Ralph Fiennes?
Omg I agree 1000%
I feel your pain! I have never had this done but I have had four vasovagal episodes now, two of which ended up in me fainting. You did a great job being brave, and points to you for speaking up!
For all the comments about not wearing gloves - I work in healthcare, and I’ve also had ear tubes put in, the reason it is often better to not wear gloves with this is that the doctor needs to have a better grip on the tools he’s using! With gloves it can be more dangerous since he could lose grip when making the incision in the eardrum etc. Since he’s not touching directly on the patient it is totally appropriate and probably better he not wear gloves.
Does anyone else feel their legs pushing as we try to help that tube get into the slit?? I tried to help the good Dr. so many times!😂😂😂
This lady is a real trooper! My procedure for both ears took less time than this second video on hers. My ear drums were thick, also.
This happened to me after my ear tube was put in last week. Except I freaked out and got up too soon, fainted, threw up, and told my doctor “I think I’m dying” LOL it was crazy! I had never experienced that before!
Looks like it is about to go in but nope, looks quite tricky. Wonderful video as always. Thanks to Dr. Fife for letting us see how he does things!
+Evan Parsons it was very generous of him to let us make the video.
O this was a toughie- I feel for both doctor & patient but it shows how difficult what seems like a simple procedure, can be.
+Jennifer Taylor we thank Dr. fife for allowing us to show a procedure that did not go easily.
Why did he touch it bare handed? He had just rubbed the side of his nose, then adjusts it without gloves. Doesn't seem very sterile especially when ears are not sterile to begin with
I had a vasovagal episode during a lumbar steroid epidural. Weirdest feeling ever, in all of my subsequent epidural injections I make sure I take deep even breaths and I haven't had one since. It is very very unnerving though. The patient handled it very well.
+Justin Taylor thanks
that tube looks big on camera but i promise guys it is amazingly small i know first hand i had many many many tubes put in my ears as a kid and when i was 18 the ear doc gave me a choice for stronger tubes that might cause more issues or help or leave it alone and that i did so my ear drum would be the same as hers very scarred
That sounds similar to Shelley's experience.
Is the vasovagal response more physical or psychological or a combination of both? I've experienced it on more than one occasion. Most of the time, I attribute it to low blood sugar or something similar.
It is a physiological state which can be triggered by either physical or psychological stimuli.
Man, that looked like a son of a gun to put in! That thick, scarred eardrum gave Dr. Fife hell!
This has probably has been asked: Why isn't he wearing gloves?
The Age of Fabulous, gloves would be worn for one of two reasons. It is either to keep from being contaminated by the patient or using sterile gloves to keep from contaminating the patient. Dr Fife never touched the end of any instruments that were inside the ear canal after they had been in the canal, so he was not contaminated by the fluid in the middle ear or the eardrum. There was not concern of him introducing contamination inside the middle ear, because the tube he was placing is the very treatment that allows drainage to keep an infection from remaining in the middle ear. Of course he washes his hands before and after the procedure.
Auburn Medical Group , I'm sorry Doctor, but I steel think he should we're gloves. He touches his nose just seconds before he holds the tube which goes inside hear ear drums... I wouldn't like if I were the patient.
Apart from this case, I love your work and the way you say to stay in good health!!! Every time you say that I always say it mentally "you too!!!".
Kisses from São Paulo - Brasil.
For my ear tube my myringotomy / ear tube placement procedure my doctor didn’t wear gloves either - specifically because it provides better grip with the tools, you don’t want your doctor to lose grip while creating the hole in your ear drum lol!!!
I had so many ear infections as a kid it was crazy! I was told by a doctor when I was 20 that my ear drum is extremely scarred up. Not sure why my parents didn't have tubes put in? I remember how painful it was waiting for my ear drum to burst from the fluid and pressure. My dad would put ear drops in my ears and I would fight him bc I hated how it felt. To this day I can't put in ear drops or get water in my ears! Psychologically scarred me lol evening watching this procedure made me feel squirmy. Very interesting though!
where are the gloves?☺
Such a delicate and fiddly procedure! Can you explain what the "episode" was and the causes of it, the doctor called it a vasowhatchamacallit and I don't speak doctor that well anymore and I'm sure many others watching didn't understand the terminology. He said it happened to him as a resident and there's nothing you can do about it so I was just wondering why? And why would this happen during this procedure? X Claire X
+Claire Westmoreland it is explained better in Part 3
Claire Westmoreland He said it was a vasovagal episode, which, according to Google, means a fainting spell
I might have to look into this treatment. I get ear infections every two or three months like clockwork. Hearing loss will last for a few weeks at a time. I've been like this since I was a toddler.
Lisa Richards does it last a while when you get one ? Ive had hearing problems since last week :/
I’m 26 and about to get this done, now I’m scared!
I can't believe he touched the sterile tube with his bare hands (1:23) and then placed the contaminated tube in her ear!
+Lanie Leigh gloves would be worn for one of two reasons. It is either to keep from being contaminated by the patient or using sterile gloves to keep from contaminating the patient. Dr Fife never touched the end of any instruments that were inside the ear canal after they had been in the canal, so he was not contaminated by the fluid in the middle ear or the eardrum. There was not concern of him introducing contamination inside the middle ear, because the tube he was placing is the very treatment that allows drainage to keep an infection from remaining in the middle ear. Of course he washes his hands before and after the procedure.
Geez... this isn’t that scene in ET where everyone has to wear head to toe sterile suits after first walking through a decontamination room. You guys are crazy. Do you know how much bacteria is just floating around your body at any given moment?? I mean there were at least 4 people in this small exam room.
Did you know most chefs prefer (and do) use bare hands to prepare food that you ingest many times daily?
Science. ;)
during this process there is pain? Reply please! Thanks!
Great video and amazing Dr!!
Thanks. I'll be sure to let him know.
Once it comes out, will it just fall out of my ear or will I need tweezers to remove it from my ear canal?
The dr touched the tube with his hand, is that ok? Cant he put bacteria on it?
webjieuyrwf delafuente, gloves would be worn for one of two reasons. It is either to keep from being contaminated by the patient or using sterile gloves to keep from contaminating the patient. Dr Fife never touched the end of any instruments that were inside the ear canal after they had been in the canal, so he was not contaminated by the fluid in the middle ear or the eardrum. There was not concern of him introducing contamination inside the middle ear, because the tube he was placing is the very treatment that allows drainage to keep an infection from remaining in the middle ear. Of course he washes his hands before and after the procedure.
I thought I saw him touch the tube (without sterile gloves)
That's was tense!
+C1nderfire ... and it's not over yet.
No gloves??? I had 2 bone marrow transplants and the doctors wouldn't even walk in my hospital room without gloves and full gowns even if they where just observing.
Just before bed. Perfect! 😀
Oh wow, that was an unexpected event...I wasn't aware that a myringotomy could bring forth those vasovagal symptoms like they did with her, but it was definitely something that was just out of her control and her body was just reacting to the procedure by "preparing the flood gates" and shunting blood away from the head. I understand just how she was feeling because my cardiac pacemaker was actually implanted for neurocardiogenic syncope that after time managed to convert into second-degree heartblock and my pulse rate dropped to 29 bpm. It took two different tilt table tests to record it happening and when my heart couldn't find an escape rhythm a code team came in and slapped the big ol' shock pads on my back and front as a precaution and I stayed in that particular rhythm for a solid 5 hours. My cardiologist said it would be a good idea to let the hospital keep me overnight for observations but eventually said "meet me in the E.D. lobby at 5am" and he took some extra time out of his own day to perform an early-morning surgery to place a pacemaker the very next day.
He is a very good family friend and I was living with my mother (a nurse in OBGYN surgery as well as head nurse on certain days) so she knew exactly what to do in case it happened again before I was to meet with the doctor in the morning - trendelenburg position, ice cold packs to my forehead and back of neck - and come back to the ER if the episode lasted for longer than 20 minutes. From that point everything was smooth sailing and I had my surgery, but I had to sleep in the same bed as my parents that night and kept getting woken up every 2 hours with a violent shake hearing "you still there!?" Implant took 45 minutes, I was fully awake and having conversations with all of the nurses who my mom begged to sit in on. I was discharged with a little too much oxycodone for my comfort but I didn't even end up taking a single pill since the only time I had pain two tramadol took it right away and I was fine.
Long story short, vasovagal reactions can be very benign in nature and just require a sip of water or having to lie down but in a small number of people they can come with severe consequences because of the nature of the vagus nerve and the purposes it serves. I found out the hard way but my case probably happens in one out of every 10,000 people.
+Brent Murphree wow. That was a unique experience with this type of nerve discharge.
Indeed it was...to be frank I'm surprised I remember as much of it as I do. I have vague memories of him looking at me and saying "I've seen this happen from implanted loop recorders but have never witnessed it firsthand before." Luckily it was a simple fix...a Medtronic Revo MRI SureScan pacemaker and $40k in surgery costs being paid by my insurance provider.
Thank you for making these ear related videos. My favorite!
+BigFatButt glad to do it.
I hear muffled now, ive had myringotomy 1 week ago. It is normal?
Is it normal to encounter ear ringing after the procedure? I had this done today and the ear ringing is gone but after they put the tube. The ear ringing is comeback and it’s high but the good thing is i feel relief. I was wondering it’s because of the tube but the doctor said he will remove it after 7 days.
Does the patient have to avoid getting water in her ears after the tube is placed? I would think that tube would allow water to enter behind the ear drum.
The need to avoid being submerged in water.
I bet you sir are a joy with ships in a bottle
Dr. Fife said that the tube he used was one of the smaller ones. Are there both adult and children's sizes of tubes?
+His Sibling yes
I had vasovagal after a gym session 😂
that tube just did not want to go in.
It was not so much the tube as the eardrum.
😱😱😱what a great doctor, though!
Just wondering, is the tube still sterile after he touched it, before he placed it in the ear?
+lindsey smith gloves would be worn for one of two reasons. It is either to keep from being contaminated by the patient or using sterile gloves to keep from contaminating the patient. Dr Fife never touched the end of any instruments that were inside the ear canal after they had been in the canal, so he was not contaminated by the fluid in the middle ear or the eardrum. There was not concern of him introducing contamination inside the middle ear, because the tube he was placing is the very treatment that allows drainage to keep an infection from remaining in the middle ear. Of course he washes his hands before and after the procedure.
Are they the tubes they put in "kids" ears when they get a lot of ear infections?
If so, it's no longer a day surgery type of procedure?
More than once the drs said if I got one more infection this year I was getting tubes-but some how I didn't get another ear infection that year.
I'm glad you didn't have to get the tubes.
Are those the same as grommets?
+Amelia Shephard same shape
Fanstastic!
Thanks, Jeaninne.
OK....I haven't watched the whole video, yet...I'm at 5:49...but, could he have been able to insert the tube w/the "alligator" forceps? I would think that would allow him more control
+VampFlirt you have no ability to tilt the angle of the tube to guide it into and through the tympanic membrane with forceps. They could be used if we just had to push the tube straight in, but you can't use an incision large enough to get both sides of the inserted end of the tube through at the same time. That would not hold the tube in place.
+Auburn Medical Group
Thank you for answering my question! I love learning new things....now that you explained it, it makes perfect sense. Thanks, again....have a great weekend! :)
I have that exact same fan! Lool
Why doesn't the dr need to wear gloves for this procedure?
+April Lemons gloves would be worn for one of two reasons. It is either to keep from being contaminated by the patient or using sterile gloves to keep from contaminating the patient. Dr Fife never touched the end of any instruments that were inside the ear canal after they had been in the canal, so he was not contaminated by the fluid in the middle ear or the eardrum. There was not concern of him introducing contamination inside the middle ear, because the tube he was placing is the very treatment that allows drainage to keep an infection from remaining in the middle ear. Of course he washes his hands before and after the procedure.
Deep ear tube now!
I am a fan
Thanks Christen Rivera
OMG Your kidding 😱