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Best ENT Specialists for Advanced Middle Ear Surgery in Chennai, India

This page lists 1 advanced middle ear surgery doctor in Chennai, India. Review each doctor's experience, specialty and hospital, then contact our care team for help with the next step.

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This page lists 1 advanced middle ear surgery doctor in Chennai, India. Review each doctor's experience, specialty and hospital, then contact our care team for help with the next step.

About Advanced Middle Ear Surgery doctors in Chennai, India

This directory is based on doctors currently listed in GAF Healthcare's registry. Clinical suitability varies by patient; a doctor should review your history and investigations before any treatment decision.

Advanced Middle Ear Surgery doctors

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Dr. Krishna Ramanathan

MBBS, DNB (Otorhinolaryngology)
Specialist, ENT · Specialty: ENT Specialist (Otorhinolaryngology)
Apollo Hospitals Chennai, India12+ Years experience
Why consider this doctor?
  • 12+ years of experience in ENT Specialist (Otorhinolaryngology)
  • Currently practising as ENT Specialist at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, bringing together over 12 years of clinical and surgical expertise.
  • Affiliated with Apollo Specialty Hospital, Chennai, contributing to multidisciplinary ENT and head and neck care programmes.
Expertise & Procedures
  • Cochlear Implant Surgery
  • Stapedectomy / Stapes Surgery
  • Advanced Middle Ear Surgery
  • Mastoidectomy
  • Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS)
View all procedures →
ENT Specialist (Otorhinolaryngology) Experience: 12+ YearsHospital Affiliation: Apollo HospitalsHospital accreditation: JCI, NABH
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Hospitals where these doctors practise

Apollo Hospitals🇮🇳 New Delhi, India
Starting from$1,800

Apollo Hospitals

Est. 1983
JCI — Joint Commission International accreditationNABH — National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers accreditation
Advanced Middle Ear SurgeryENTCardiac SurgeryCardiology
1+
Doctors for Advanced Middle Ear Surgery
4.9
1240 reviews
1000+
Beds
43+
Years Since Founded
Dr. Krishna Ramanathan
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Why consider treatment in India?

Many international patients consider India for chronic middle ear disease treatment for several reasons, including:

More affordable estimates

Competitive indicative costs compared with many other countries, for similar clinical standards.

Internationally accredited hospitals

Hospitals experienced in treating international patients.

Experienced specialists

Doctors who regularly manage similar cases.

Care coordination support

A team to help with planning, medical translation and follow-up.

About the Procedure

What is Advanced Middle Ear Surgery?

Advanced Middle Ear Surgery refers to a group of specialized ENT procedures—such as tympanoplasty, mastoidectomy, and ossiculoplasty—performed to treat chronic middle ear infections, eardrum perforations, cholesteatoma, and hearing loss caused by damaged ear structures. These surgeries aim to eliminate infection, repair the eardrum and ossicles, and restore or preserve hearing. India is a leading destination for these procedures due to highly experienced ENT/otology surgeons and advanced microsurgical and endoscopic equipment at a fraction of Western costs.

Who may be considered?

Advanced Middle Ear Surgery may be considered after a qualified specialist reviews your reports and medical history. Suitability varies from person to person and must be assessed by your treating doctor.

How does it work?

Microscopic or endoscopic repair of a perforated eardrum using the patient's own tissue graft (temporalis fascia or cartilage) to restore the eardrum's integrity and improve hearing.

3 approaches available for this procedure:

Tympanoplasty (Eardrum Repair)

Most Popular

Microscopic or endoscopic repair of a perforated eardrum using the patient's own tissue graft (temporalis fascia or cartilage) to restore the eardrum's integrity and improve hearing.

Comprehensive Investigations

Estimated cost: $150 - $400

Pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, CT temporal bone, CBC, ECG, otoscopic/endoscopic ear examination

Treatment / Procedure Estimate

Estimated cost in India: $1,800 - $3,200

Stay in India

Pre-procedure stay (outside hospital): ~1 day
Hospitalisation: ~1-2 days
Recovery period (outside hospital): ~10-14 days recommended
Total stay: approx 12-16 days

Usually Included in Hospital Package

  • Surgeon and anesthetist fees
  • Operation theatre and disposables
  • Standard hospital room stay
  • Pre-op investigations at hospital
  • Post-op medications during stay

Usually Not Included

  • Flights and visa costs
  • Hotel stay for accompanying attendant
  • Post-discharge follow-up audiometry
  • Hearing aid (if needed)

Recovery and follow-up

Most patients can resume light activities within 1-2 weeks, while full hearing improvement and healing may take 6-8 weeks; a follow-up audiometry and ear examination is recommended before flying back home and again at 3 months.

Risks

As with any middle ear surgery, potential risks include graft failure, temporary or permanent hearing changes, dizziness, taste disturbance, or infection, though these are uncommon with experienced surgical teams.

Alternatives

In select mild cases, conservative management with topical antibiotic drops and regular ear cleaning may control infection, though it does not repair the eardrum or restore hearing; hearing aids can be considered for patients unfit for or unwilling to undergo surgery.

What we need to prepare a formal estimate

Share whatever you have — the care team will confirm the final checklist after reviewing your case.

Reports required

  • Recent pure tone audiometry and tympanometry report
  • High-resolution CT scan of temporal bone
  • MRI (if cholesteatoma or complication suspected)
  • Otoscopic/endoscopic ear examination photos or video
  • Previous ear surgery records, if any
  • CBC and basic blood chemistry
  • ECG (for patients above 40 or with cardiac history)
  • List of current medications and allergies

Patient information needed

  • Duration and history of ear discharge, pain, or hearing loss
  • Which ear(s) are affected
  • History of prior ear surgeries or grommet insertion
  • Presence of dizziness, tinnitus, or facial weakness
  • Known allergies to anesthesia or medications
  • Chronic conditions such as diabetes or hypertension
  • Current hearing aid usage, if any
  • Preferred travel dates and companion details

Costs shown are indicative planning estimates based on typical pricing across leading Indian hospitals. They are not a quote — actual pricing depends on your case complexity, hospital choice, and length of stay. Share your reports for a personalized estimate.

Want a formal estimate?

Share your reports and patient information so our care coordination team can review your case.

How this directory is built

Doctors are matched using the specialty, location, condition (Advanced Middle Ear Surgery) and procedure (Advanced Middle Ear Surgery) recorded in their profiles. Inclusion is not an endorsement and does not guarantee a treatment outcome.

Need help with the next step?

Share your needs with our care coordination team for information about doctors and hospitals.

Common questions

FAQs about Advanced Middle Ear Surgery in Chennai, India

What is Chronic Middle Ear Disease?
Chronic middle ear disease refers to a group of long-standing conditions affecting the middle ear — the air-filled space behind the eardrum — in which ongoing inflammation, infection, or structural damage persists for months or years. The most serious subtype, cholesteatoma, involves abnormal skin cell growth that can erode bone and surrounding structures if not treated.
What are the symptoms and health risks of Chronic Middle Ear Disease?
Common presentations include persistent or intermittent ear discharge (otorrhoea), varying degrees of hearing loss, a sensation of fullness or pressure in the ear, and occasionally ear pain or tinnitus. In more advanced cases — particularly with cholesteatoma — dizziness, facial weakness, or worsening neurological symptoms may indicate spread beyond the middle ear. It is important to note that symptom pattern and severity alone are not sufficient to establish the specific diagnosis or determine how far the disease has progressed; a thorough clinical assessment is required.
How is Chronic Middle Ear Disease diagnosed?
Diagnosis typically begins with a detailed otoscopic examination, which may reveal eardrum perforation, retraction pockets, polyps, or the white pearly tissue characteristic of cholesteatoma. Audiometric testing — including pure-tone audiometry and tympanometry — is used to quantify hearing loss and assess middle ear function. High-resolution CT scanning of the temporal bone is often essential to map the extent of bony involvement and guide surgical planning, while MRI may be used where intracranial spread or soft tissue involvement is suspected.
How is Chronic Middle Ear Disease treated?
The appropriate management pathway depends on the specific diagnosis, disease extent, degree of hearing loss, and the patient's overall health — and must be determined by a qualified specialist after individual assessment. Milder forms of chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma may initially be managed with medical therapy and close monitoring, while cholesteatoma and cases with significant structural damage or mastoid involvement typically require surgical intervention such as mastoidectomy or advanced middle ear reconstructive surgery. Hearing rehabilitation, including hearing aids or ossicular chain reconstruction, may form part of the treatment plan regardless of whether surgery is performed.
Can Chronic Middle Ear Disease be treated without a procedure?
Non-surgical management has a meaningful role in certain presentations — particularly uncomplicated CSOM with an intact or only mildly perforated eardrum — and may include topical antibiotic or antiseptic ear drops, systemic antibiotics for acute flare-ups, and regular aural toilet (ear cleaning) performed by a clinician. However, when cholesteatoma is confirmed, or when bony erosion, recurrent infections, or significant hearing deterioration are present, non-surgical approaches are generally insufficient to arrest disease progression and surgery is typically recommended.
When is Advanced Middle Ear Surgery considered for Chronic Middle Ear Disease?
Advanced Middle Ear Surgery may be considered only when it is appropriate for the confirmed diagnosis and the expected benefit outweighs the individual risks. The decision may depend on symptom severity, investigation results, previous treatment, overall health and the patient's goals. A specialist should discuss alternatives and recovery before any procedure is planned.
Which doctor treats Chronic Middle Ear Disease?
Chronic middle ear disease is evaluated and managed by an otolaryngologist (ENT surgeon), ideally one with subspecialty experience in otology or neurotology — the surgical disciplines focused specifically on ear disease and hearing disorders. In complex cases involving hearing reconstruction or suspected intracranial complications, management may involve a multidisciplinary team including an audiologist and, where relevant, a neurosurgeon.
How do I choose a doctor for Chronic Middle Ear Disease?
When selecting a specialist, it is worth asking about their specific experience with the type and extent of middle ear disease you have been found to have — including their volume of mastoidectomy and middle ear reconstruction procedures — as well as the availability of intraoperative facial nerve monitoring and post-operative audiological follow-up at their centre.
What documents do international patients need to share for a medical evaluation?
Share a concise medical summary, symptom timeline, previous diagnoses, investigation and imaging reports, procedure or biopsy reports where relevant, current medicines, allergies and related treatment records. Provide clear copies with translations when needed. The reviewing doctor may request additional information before giving an opinion.
How does GAF Healthcare help international patients plan treatment in India?
Our care coordination team can review the initial information, help identify suitable doctors and hospitals, request a medical opinion where available, explain next steps and indicative cost information, and support practical planning before travel. A remote opinion does not replace an in-person examination or emergency care.
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