Grommet is a small ventilation tube which is inserted through the small artificial opening on the ear drum. The tube will fall off in 6 to 18 months.

Grommet

Who needs the operation?
Those who have middle ear infection with effusion.
 

Why having the operation?
The aim is to equalize the pressure on both sides of the ear drum so as to improve hearing. In case of acute middle ear infection, insertion of the small tube can help to drain the pus out.

Surgical risk and possible complications:

• Common risk:
  Recurrence, infection, bleeding, residual perforation of ear drum (around 1 %).
   
• Less common risk:
  Hearing loss, vertigo, facial nerve paralysis, dislodgement of ventilation tube into middle ear, implantation cholesteatoma.
   

What would happen if NO operation?
Complication of acute middle ear infection will result, such as acute mastoiditis, intracranial spread.

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