What are Grommets

First of all, each ear is made up of three parts. There is the outer ear which you can see, and which gathers the sound. Further in, the outer ear runs into the middle ear on each side. Deeper still, there is an inner ear on each side. The sound goes down the ear tube, which is part of the outer ear, into the middle ear on that side. The ear drum stretches across the deepest part of the ear tube between the outer ear and the middle ear. The drum is about a third of an inch (0.8cm) across. It is made of thin skin, like the top of a real drum. The middle ear is an air space which connects with the back of your nose. This is why your ear drums pop when you blow your nose. Fluid has built up in the middle ear because it cannot drain through to the back of your nose. To start with the fluid was thin and watery. Gradually, it has become thick and sticky, like jelly. It is sometimes called "glue ear". This fluid stops the ear drum letting the sound through properly. It is the cause of your hearing difficulties. The fluid behind the ear drum may be also leading to infection in the middle ear.

What happens before the Operation

Please tell the doctors and nurses of any allergies to tablets, medicines or dressings. You will have the operation explained to you and will be asked to fill in an operation consent form.

The Operation

You will have a general anaesthetic and will be completely asleep. The Surgeon will shine a very fine microscope down your ear tube. He will make a tiny cut in the ear drum (myringotomy). A very fine sucker will be placed through the hole in the eardrum into the middle ear. The sucker will draw the fluid from behind the ear drum like a miniature vacuum cleaner. He will then plug a tiny hollow plastic tube into the hole in the ear drum. This tube is called a grommet. It is shaped like a cotton reel with flanges that hold it in place in the ear drum. The grommet lets air pass from the ear tube through the ear drum and into the middle ear. Any fluid in the middle ear will now just dry up. Because you will be asleep, you will not feel any pain during the operation. Your operation can be done as a day case. The Surgeon can do both sides at the same time if needed.