Jubilee Hospital Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
Myringotomy and grommet insertion is the common operation. A grommet is inserted if there is a thick sticky fluid known as “glue” present behind the eardrum. Grommets are also used to treat infections in the middle ear. Normally there is air in the middle ear behind the eardrum. The middle ear contains three small bones called the ossicles; these bones vibrate, allowing sound to be transmitted across to the nerve of hearing. If “glue” or fluid is present in the middle ear, the eardrum is unable to vibrate as freely, causing hearing loss.
The surgeon will look into the ear with a microscope. A small incision (Myringotomy) will be made in the ear drum. If there is sticky thick fluid in the space behind the ear drum (middle ear), this will be cleared out by gentle suction.
A grommet (small plastic /Teflon  tube) will then be placed in the ear drum. This tube will ventilate the middle ear and prevent a build up of glue again, it does not drain fluid. The grommet lets air to get into the middle ear. Hearing improves immediately. Grommets stay in approximately 9 months – but they can fall out a lot earlier or stay in for up to 2 years. The hole will then heal leaving the eardrum intact.
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