Covid-19 and Ear Surgery: Treatment Strategies and Triage during the Post-lockdown Period

Abstract

The accumulated disease burden during lockdown period, due to postponement of regular surgeries, is expected to put additional pressure on surgeons during the post-lockdown period. Due to the contagious nature of SARS-CoV-2 and its suspected presence in middle ear mucosa and mastoid, Ear surgeons are bound to face a challenging situation in present times as well as in times to come. Through this article we aim to streamline fresh management strategies particularly for the post-lockdown period keeping in mind that immunity after vaccination may take a few months to develop due to various factors discussed in the article. The ENT Cochrane, Pubmed and Web of Science databases were searched extensively using the terms ‘Covid-19 and SARS-CoV-2 in conjunction with Ear surgery and Otology. Data collected from these, put together with our experience helped us in putting forward fresh management strategies to deal with the current situation being experienced worldwide. To reduce the risk of infection to the healthcare staff, we have suggested a new triage strategy for ear surgeries to reduce the accumulated disease burden in the post-lockdown period until immunity by vaccination develops amongst a good number of Ear surgeons. Also we have put forward certain operating guidelines that might prove helpful for the Ear surgeon during these times. Fresh Triage guidelines mentioned in this article are particularly meant to help ear surgeons reduce the accumulated disease burden in the post lockdown-period with ease and efficacy. Since ear surgery poses a risk of infection to the healthcare workers, specific guidelines pertaining to ear surgery during the pandemic are mentioned in detail which in our opinion can be of immense help to all the healthcare professionals involved in ear procedures till the time the vaccine is administered on a large scale.