Q: My five years old son had an adenoid surgery last year in India. He had grommet inserted in both the ears. The doctor told us that the insertion should ideally last from three weeks to three months. However, when we visited another doctor for follow up in UAE, he advised that the insertion should last from six months to at least a year. In my son’s case, the grommet has already come out. How long ideally should the grommets stay inserted in the ear? Is there any chance of fluid build up once it comes out? Should the grommet be inserted again?

A:Grommets once inserted have a specific job and usually they are able to do the job. The grommet expulsion may take 4-8 weeks. There is no guarantee that if the grommet stays shorter or longer, there will be some change in the status of the middle ear. Once the symptoms are cleared and the tympanogram shows there is no fluid in middle ear, there is no need for re-insertion.