Persistent ear infections, fluid behind the eardrum, blocked ears and hearing difficulties can affect children and adults. When fluid remains trapped in the middle ear or ear infections continue to recur despite appropriate medical treatment, an ear specialist may recommend ventilation tube placement. Ear tube surgery in Mumbai is a minimally invasive procedure in which a tiny tube, commonly called a grommet or ventilation tube, is placed through the eardrum to improve middle-ear ventilation and help prevent fluid from building up again.
Dr. Shama Kovale, Senior Consultant at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, has over 23 years of clinical and surgical experience in ENT care. Her areas of expertise include ear disorders, pediatric ENT, cochlear implants and endoscopic ENT surgeries. She provides individualized assessment to determine whether ventilation tube placement is appropriate for a patient.
Ear tube surgery, also known as grommet insertion or ventilation tube placement, involves placing a small tube into the eardrum. The tube creates an alternative pathway for air to enter the middle ear and helps prevent the accumulation of fluid.
The procedure is particularly common in children with persistent middle-ear fluid, recurrent ear infections or hearing difficulties associated with otitis media with effusion. In selected adults, tubes may also be considered for chronic middle-ear problems, Eustachian tube dysfunction or pressure-related ear problems.
The procedure is generally brief and may be performed as a day-care surgery. According to the referenced clinical information, grommet insertion typically takes around 15–30 minutes, with children commonly returning home the same day.
The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and helps regulate pressure and drain fluid. In children, this drainage pathway is smaller and still developing, making them more susceptible to middle-ear fluid and infections.
An ENT specialist may consider ventilation tubes when a patient has:
Persistent fluid can sometimes occur without obvious pain or fever. A child may instead appear inattentive, ask for repetition, increase the television volume or experience speech and language difficulties. Appropriate hearing and ENT evaluation can help identify whether middle-ear fluid is contributing to these concerns.
Before surgery, the ENT specialist evaluates the ears and reviews symptoms, infection history and hearing-related concerns. Hearing tests or tympanometry may be recommended depending on the patient’s age and clinical findings.