Yes, it is. It also depends on the ENT who does the surgery.

All surgeries carry with them risks and benefits that must be considered when making the decision to move forward. These should be fully disclosed and thoroughly discussed, in terms parents can understand, before the informed consent form is signed. Ear tube surgery in children has now replaced tonsillectomy as the most common surgery performed on children in
the United States.

Shelley C. Springer, MD, MBA, MSc, JD, FAAP

It is usually recommended if fluid stays in ears for greater than 3 months or if the child has greater than 5 ear infections in a year, esp if there is hearing loss. It is usually safe Most ENT just use gas and do not intubate. After the procedure they do not need to get water in their ears.