Tympanostomy tube insert

In the case of chronic mucus formation in the middle ear, it is often advisable to make a small incision in the eardrum and aspirate viscous fluid from the middle ear. This improves sound transmission in the ear and thus hearing. If the fluid in the middle ear is so viscous that it cannot be aspirated, it is often very effective to insert a tympanostomy tube into the eardrum. This will allow air to enter the middle ear again. The inflamed middle ear mucosa can then transform back into normal middle ear mucosa, which produces less mucus. This makes hearing noticeably better again. The tympanostomy tube usually remains in place for several months and is then spontaneously rejected again. In rare cases, it may also be necessary to surgically remove the tympanostomy tube.