Operations for Glue Ear

Who needs an operation for glue ear?

An operation may be advised to restore hearing to normal if glue ear does not clear after a time of 'watchful waiting'. The time advised to 'wait and see' if the glue ear clears can vary from child to child. It depends on such things as the age of the child, the severity of the hearing loss, whether there has been previous episodes of glue ear, whether schooling, learning or speech is affected, etc.

What are the operations?

• Myringotomy and grommet insertion is the common operation. (See diagram below.) Myringotomy is a tiny cut (about 2-3mm) made in the eardrum. The fluid is drained and a grommet (ventilation tube) is often inserted. A grommet is like a tiny pipe that is put across the eardrum. The grommet lets air to get into the middle ear. Hearing improves immediately.
• Removal of the adenoids is sometimes advised. Adenoids are small clumps of glandular tissue (similar to tonsils). They are attached at the back of the nose cavity near to the opening of the Eustachian tube. If the adenoids are large then taking them out may improve the drainage of the Eustachian tube.
• A new laser method to make a tiny hole in the eardrum and allow drainage is being developed. This has a similar effect to myringotomy and grommet insertion. It may become more widely available if it proves successful.

These operations are done under a general anaesthetic. They only take a short time to do. They are often done as a 'day case'. Sometimes an overnight stay in hospital is needed.

Are there any risks with these operations?

As with any operation, there is a risk of complications from the surgery and with the anaesthetic. However, the risk is very small.

Some common concerns after grommets are put in

• Swimming is usually fine. However, it is best to avoid underwater swimming or ducking the head deeply underwater. Some surgeons advise wearing ear plugs when swimming. Always follow any specific advice about swimming from your surgeon.
• Washing. Try not to get soapy water into the ears. Don't duck the head into soapy water. Wash the outside of the ears in the normal way. A cotton wool ball with vaseline placed in the ear canal could be used to prevent water from getting into the ear.
• Flying in a plane is actually easier if you have a grommet in your ear. The grommet allows the pressure of air to equalise between the middle and outer ear. This prevents ear pain during landing and take off.

The diagram below shows where a grommet is placed.

What happens to the grommet after it is put in the ear?

Grommets allow air into the middle ear. Grommets normally fall out of the ear as the eardrum grows, usually after 6-12 months. By this time the glue ear has often gone away. The cut in the eardrum made for the grommet normally heals quickly when the grommet falls out. Grommets are so small that you may not notice when they fall out of the ear.

Do grommets cure the glue ear for good?

When the grommet falls out the problem with glue ear is usually gone. However, sometimes the fluid returns after the grommet falls out and the eardrum heals over. A repeat operation to put a new grommet in is sometimes needed. In some children a grommet is needed several times until glue ear clears for good.

Are there any complications with grommets?

• An ear discharge develops at some point in about 1 in 20 children with grommets. This is often during or after a cold. This is not usually serious or painful. See your GP about this if it occurs. Antibiotic medicine or ear drops may be prescribed and the discharge usually soon clears. Occasionally, the discharge persists and the grommet needs to be taken out.
• Minor damage and scarring to the eardrum may occur but this is unlikely to cause any problems.
• Rarely, a small hole (perforation) persists in the eardrum after the grommet has come out. A small operation can fix this should it occur.