RT Book, Section A1 Jones, Paul J. A2 Reichman, Eric F. SR Print(0) ID 1159808926 T1 Tympanocentesis T2 Reichman's Emergency Medicine Procedures, 3e YR 2018 FD 2018 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781259861925 LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1159808926 RD 2024/10/07 AB Tympanocentesis, first described in 1768, is a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure in which a needle is inserted through the tympanic membrane to aspirate fluid from the middle ear (Figure 199-1). The procedure is considered diagnostic when the material obtained is sent for laboratory and/or microbiological analysis. It is considered therapeutic in most instances because it relieves pressure, reducing pain, and often shortens the course of acute otitis media (AOM).