Specifics of the Procedure Ear tube surgery (myringotomy) is typically performed while the patient is sedated (put to sleep). Adults might also be treated with a local anesthetic (the patient remains awake). The surgeon makes a small cut in the eardrum to allow air to flow through to the ears. Then he or she inserts a needle through the opening and taps or clicks it to create a sound that goes through the ear canal to the brain. There are two types of ear tubes: myringotomies for cleaning out the ear drum (myringotomy), and tympanostomies for repairing damaged ear drums (tympanoplasty). Myringotomy patients require only short-term anesthesia, usually intravenous (IV) sedation or general anesthesia. Tympanoplasty patients may require either type of anesthesia depending on the severity of their damage to the ear drum.