How much does it cost to lay a timpani tube?
The costs for the insertion of a tympani tube are covered by the statutory health insurance. However, depending on the health insurance company, additional costs for fitted earplugs may be incurred after the procedure, which may be needed for showering or swimming. In this case, it is important to contact your own health insurance company to clarify whether a proportionate or complete cost coverage is possible.
What are the alternatives to the timpani tube?
The alternative to the timpani tube is the natural tearing of the eardrum by the secretion congestion. If the pressure on the eardrum becomes too great due to the congested fluid in the middle ear, the tissue ruptures as a result of the overload. The effect is the same as with a tympanic tube.
A hole is created in the eardrum and the secretion can flow out through the external auditory canal. In contrast to the creation of a timpani tube, this happens later. Those affected therefore often suffer longer from earache and possibly a throbbing feeling in the ear.
However, once the pressure has been equalized, the sensation is the same as after the application of a tympani tube. The further healing process differs, however. A torn eardrum contains no foreign body and can heal completely immediately after the secretion has drained off.
The tear is closed again within a few days to a few weeks. The edges of the wound stick together relatively quickly and form a flat eardrum. In the case of a tympanic tube, the opening remains longer because the tissue has to repel the foreign material.
The alternative to the tympanic tube is therefore the body’s own handling of the congestion of secretions in the middle ear. There is no right or wrong in this respect. Only symptoms can be alleviated and the course of the disease can be shortened somewhat.
The natural tearing and healing of the eardrum is not a disadvantage in the acute course of the disease. The natural rupture should only be avoided in chronic processes.
