Post-surgical tympanostomy tube follow up with audiology: experience at the Freeman Hospital

Tympanostomy tube (grommet) insertion is a common procedure, with little guidance in the current literature regarding post-operative surveillance. Our institution implemented a protocol to follow up post-surgical grommet patients via audiology at six weeks. A retrospective audit of all patients less than 16 years old who had undergone grommet insertion during a three-month period. A total of 149 patients had grommets inserted. Exclusion criteria left a cohort of 123 individuals; 82 (67 per cent) were followed up by audiology. Of these, 13 (11 per cent) did not attend follow up, and were discharged; 53 (43 per cent) were discharged from audiology with normal thresholds; and 16 (13 per cent) were referred back to a consultant. Therefore, the overall reduction in patients followed up by an otolaryngologist was 54 per cent. We recommend a six-week follow up with audiology following grommet insertion, allowing for referral back to ENT services in the event of related complications.