What happens During Surgery?
The grommet insertion operation treats glue ear and involves making a small hole in the eardrum. Fluid build-up is removed by suction during the procedure and a plastic or metal grommet is inserted in the hole.
An adenoidectomy is performed under a general anaesthetic and usually takes about 20 minutes. The surgeon will remove the adenoids through the patient’s mouth, and place a pack at the back of the nose to stop any bleeding.
How long will I stay in hospital?
You or your child should be able to go home the same day.
What is my recovery time?
After having grommets inserted, the patient should not swim for 6 weeks, nor dive deeper than 2 meters.
The patient will also need 2 days off school or work to avoid catching an infection that could lead to bleeding.
The patient should be able to resume other activities after 2 days.
Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, ask the healthcare team or your GP for advice.
Grommets will fall out of the ear by themselves, 6 to 18 months after surgery, depending on the material and design of the grommet.
