ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Multiple reports have linked COVID-19 infection with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), although other studies have failed to demonstrate this association. The current study was conceived to examine the rates of SSNHL across a large, principally national, population by characterizing the rate of transtympanic injections for SSNHL during the pandemic. METHODS: Retrospective review of all patients that underwent transtympanic injection from 2019 to 2020. RESULTS: Covering a unique beneficiary population of 9.6 million individuals of all ages in the United States, a statistically significant decrease in transtympanic injections for SSNHL was performed from 2019 to 2020 (p = 0.04, IRR = 0.91, 95 % CI = 0.84-0.99). No patient receiving a transtympanic injection also had a COVID-19 diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the idea that COVID-19 infections do not clinically significantly increase patients' risk of developing SSNHL. In fact, the decreased exposure through social isolation to other common viruses implicated in causing SSNHL may have actually led to a lower rate of SSNHL during the pandemic.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged every surgical discipline. Lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina have informed our department's management of the current crisis. That experience impressed upon us a profound appreciation for shared decision making in the face of scarce resources, an evolving clinical context, and potential harm to patients and health care workers. To that end, we have formed a Resource Utilization Committee to prospectively review all nonemergent surgical cases during the current crisis. This has allowed "state-of-the-pandemic" otolaryngologic care in a real-time, collaborative, and high-information setting. In addition, to protect our patients and health care workers, it has influenced our institution's thoughtful application of COVID testing and the use of personal protective equipment.