A grommet is a commonly performed operation. It is one of the first operations taught to a training ENT surgeon. There are different types of grommets used in clinical practice and the two that I prefer include the Shah grommet (much more commonly used) and a T tube.

Shah grommets are a shorter lasting grommet that I often say to patients should stay in for approximateley 9-18 months.They are relatively atraumatic with few long term sequelae.

T tubes are inserted as a long term ventilation tube and are rarely, first line treatments and are often only placed after multiple short term grommet insertions. Unfortunately as a result of staying in place for significantly longer, when they extrude they can leave a perforation in the eardrum.