Grommets
What are Grommets?
Grommets are made of an inert material and are essentially a window to allow ventilation of the middle ear to the external ear and outside environment.
Reasons for Grommets
The middle ear is a space behind the eardrum. During your consultation with Mr Watson, you will see a grommet.
The middle ear has an air vent (Eustachian tube) between the middle ear and back of the nose.
This ventilation tube, particularly in children, may not work very well.
Negative pressure, therefore is generated within the middle ear. Fluid then is produced by the mucosa that lines the middle ear.
The resulting pressure changes and fluid within the middle ear causes deafness, pain, fevers and, sometimes, febrile convulsions in children. Children can, therefore, have many bouts of otitis media as described.
Operation of ventilation tubes
The operation is a short procedure, done under general anaesthetic as a day case. The Surgeon makes a small cut in the eardrum and suctions out any fluid within the middle ear, and then inserts the grommet so that the flanges of the grommet sit on each side of the eardrum.
The grommet therefore now acts as an air vent.
The grommets will eventually fall out of the eardrum into the wax of the ear canal on their own. In general, it is hoped that this occurs approximately a year after their insertion. This period of time allows the child’s eustachian tube time to work.
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GROMMETS (VENTILATION TUBES)
A Guide for Mr Watson’s Patients |
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