Treatment Duration
15 Minutes
------ To ------20 Minutes
Treatment Cost
₹ 35,000
------ To ------₹ 60,000
Table of Contents
Book Appointment for Tympanostomy
Tympanostomy is a surgical procedure that involves the insertion of a tiny tube into the eardrum. It is a common procedure performed to release air pressure and prevent fluid buildup in the middle ear. The surgery is also known as Ear Tube Insertion.
The tiny tubes inserted are called grommets, pressure equalization tubes, ventilation tubes, or tympanostomy tubes. These tubes are small, hollow, and cylindrical. The procedure usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes to complete. Generally, the recovery after the surgery is quick and effortless.
Surgery Name | Tympanostomy |
Alternative Name | Ear Tube Insertion |
Disease Treated | Acute otitis media, Chronic ear infections, Retracted eardrum, Barotrauma, Restore hearing loss |
Benefits of the Surgery | Improved hearing, Reduction in the frequency of recurrent otitis media, Reduced fluid accumulation, Less pain |
Treated by | Otolaryngologist (ENT specialist) |
You can check Tympanostomy Cost here.
Tympanostomy or ear tube insertion is a surgical procedure that involves the insertion of a tiny tube into the eardrum. It is a common procedure performed to release air pressure and prevent fluid buildup in the middle ear. The tiny tubes inserted are called grommets, pressure equalization tubes, ventilation tubes or tympanostomy tubes. These tubes are small, hollow, and cylindrical. They are made of plastic, metal, teflon, or silicon.
The human ear is an organ of hearing as it detects and analyses sound by converting sound waves into electrical impulses. The ear has three distinguishable parts: the outer, middle and inner ear.
Pinna or auricle: Pinna or auricle is the outermost part and collects the sound waves.
External auditory canal: It connects the outer ear to the eardrum.
The middle ear comprises of:
Tympanic membrane: It is also called the eardrum and is made of connective tissue.
Ear bones: It contains a chain of three tiny bones, malleus, incus, and stapes. The stapes are the smallest bone attached to the cochlea's oval window.
Eustachian tube: It helps equalize the pressure between the middle ear and the atmosphere.
The inner ear comprises of:
Labyrinth: It consists of interconnected canals and sacs. It is surrounded by a liquid called perilymph.
Cochlear: cochlear is the coiled portion of the labyrinth, which helps balance.
The sound waves or vibrations are collected by the pinna, which reaches the tympanic membrane through the auditory canal. The collected sound waves vibrate the eardrum and transmit the vibration to three bones in the middle ear. The earbones amplify the sound waves which reach the perilymph through the oval window. Finally, the vibration reaches the cochlear, which converts these vibrations to electrical impulses. These electrical impulses are later sent to the brain, translating into sound.
Generally, tympanostomy is done to to release air pressure and prevent fluid buildup in the middle ear. However, tympanostomy also helps treat other conditions such as:
Tympanostomy is generally performed in children of age one to three years. The procedure is also performed in adults who have:
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Ear tube surgery is a safe procedure. The procedure usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes to complete depending on the patient's age, medical condition of the patient and the complexity of the case. The procedure is done under general anaesthesia to keep the patient comfortable. However, in some cases, local anaesthetics can also be used. ENT specialist along with specialised medical staff performs this procedure. The following steps are involved in the procedure:
Before the tympanostomy, the doctor/surgeon will discuss and prepare the patient for the surgery. These steps often involve:
Before undergoing the tympanostomy procedure, the ENT specialist will:
A patient who has undergone tympanostomy can expect the following after the surgery:
Tympanostomy is a simple and safe procedure with several benefits that helps improve the quality of life of an individual. Below mentioned are some of the benefits of tympanostomy.
Like any surgical procedure, tympanostomy also has some risks and complications. These include:
The patient must consult the doctor immediately if he or she experiences:
Delaying a tympanostomy procedure can increase the severity of the pain and discomfort in the ear, leading to reduced quality of life. Below mentioned are some of the common risks of delayed tympanostomy:
The cost of tympanostomy ranges from ₹35,000 to ₹60,000. The cost varies based on the following factors:
Procedure Name | Cost Value |
Tympanostomy | ₹35,000 to ₹60,000 |
Tympanostomy is a surgical procedure that involves the insertion of a tiny tube into the eardrum. It is a common procedure performed to release air pressure and prevent fluid buildup in the middle ear.
Usually, the tympanostomy procedure takes 15 to 20 minutes to complete, depending on the patient's age, medical condition of the patient and the complexity of the case.
The recovery from ear tube insertion surgery is typically quick. There will be some discharge and slight pain, but that will go away in three to four days.
Tympanostomy surgery is performed by an otolaryngologist (ENT specialist) with other professional medical staff.
After the tympanostomy tube insertion surgery, the patient may feel some popping, pulsation, or clicking in the ear. The patient may also feel be some minor pain, especially when burping, chewing, or yawning.
During an ear tube insertion surgery, the surgeon makes a small hole in the eardrum using a scalpel and inserts a tube in the incision. This helps the airflow in and out of the middle ear and also helps drain the fluid build-up behind the eardrum.
An individual requires a tympanostomy when he/she has an acute otitis media, frequent ear infection, hearing loss, retracted eardrum, and ear injuries.
Like any surgical procedure, tympanostomy also has some risks and complications. These include a hole in the eardrum that doesn't close after the tube comes out, scarring of the eardrums, repeated ear infections even after ear tube surgery, and eardrum shrinking or hardens.
Tympanostomy is a simple and safe procedure with several benefits. These include improved hearing, reduction in the frequency of recurrent otitis media, reduced fluid accumulation, reduced need for oral antibiotics during ear infections, and less pain or lower fevers during ear infections.
As the ear tube is a foreign object, it will eventually be rejected and pushed out of the eardrum. Depending on the tube type, this will mostly occur 6 to 12 months after the tube is placed.
Tympanostomy is considered to be an extremely safe procedure. However, some risks are also involved with the surgery. The risks include excessive bleeding, infection, pain, nausea and vomiting.
Yes, a patient can take shower after the procedure but the patient should try not to get water in the affected area while the tube is in place.
The cost of a tympanostomy procedure ranges from ₹35,000 to ₹60,000.
The cost of a tympanostomy procedure differs due to factors including the patient’s age, the type of procedure done, techniques and equipment used, the type of hospital, and the admission room that a patient opts for.
Yes, all health insurance plans cover tympanostomy. Paperwork is facilitated by our team on your behalf ensuring smooth approval and a cashless facility. Contact HexaHealth for a simple cashless and hassle-free experience.
Last Updated on: 19 September 2022
HexaHealth Care Team brings you medical content covering many important conditions, procedures falling under different medical specialities. The content published is thoroughly reviewed by our panel of qualified doctors for its accuracy and relevance.
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