Ventilation Tubes (Grommets)

About your treatment

Grommets are very small ventilation tubes inserted into the tympanic membrane (ear drum) to improve the ventilation of the middle ear. This is required usually in children but occasionally in adults suffering from:

  • Persistent hearing loss causing delayed speech development as a result of fluid trapped in the middle ear (Glue Ear).
  • Persistent middle ear fluid or altered middle ear pressure causing deterioration in the appearance of the tympanic membrane (ear drum) quality
  • Recurrent ear infections.

    Before your operation

    Your surgeon would have discussed the operation with you.

    Inform your surgeon if you are infected on the day of surgery or soon before. Should that be the case the surgery needs to be postponed

    The Surgery

    This is usually done under General anaesthetic and occasionally under local anaesthetic

    The surgery allows the surgeon to fully examine the ear in addition to inserting the ventilation tube.

    Length of stay

    This is a day case procedure.

    After leaving hospital

    You will be given analgesia (pain killers), although in general this is not a very painful procedure. Ear drops (antibiotics) are occasionally prescribed as well

    Keep the ears dry and avoid swimming for 6 weeks after surgery. After this period and if the ears are healthy you are allowed to swim but avoid diving and continue to take water precautions when having a bath.

    You should be able to return to work once you have recovered from the anaesthetic.

    Complications

    1. Infection
    If you experience increasing pain or discharge from the ear, you will need to see your doctor who will prescribe antibiotic drops for the infected ear.
    2. Dizziness
    When surgery is performed under local anaesthetic you may experience a very short lasting period of dizziness
    3. Perforated ear drum
    This occurs in 2 - 3% of ears after the Grommet extrudes. Occasionally this requires surgery in the future to close the perforation
    4. Hearing loss
    This is an extremely rare potential complication of ventilation tube insertion.
    		•