Telemedicine for ear diseases with the smartphone otoscopes via WeChat in the COVID-19 era.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes and satisfaction of ear patients who participated in the smartphone otoscopes telemedicine via WeChat. METHODS: Patients in this study included newly diagnosed outpatients and online patients who did not undergo an outpatient diagnosis. Patients performed regular ear self-examinations, took pictures at home using their smartphone endoscopes, and submitted images to a WeChat community. Otolaryngologist gave timely online feedback. All of the following data were recorded: patients age and gender, disease duration, outpatient diagnosis, side, telemedicine duration, number of telemedicine visits, outcomes, satisfaction. RESULTS: A total of 74 patients were included in the study, including 39 males and 35 females, with an average age of 31.1 ± 13.7 years (range 4-55 years). Of these patients, 68 were outpatients, and 6 directly participated in telemedicine online. The patient's disease duration ranged from 1 day to 15 days, with an average of 4.0 ± 3.0 days. The mean duration was 8.1 days (range: 3-21 days) for telemedicine. The mean number of visits was 2.7 times (range: 2-6 times) for telemedicine. 68 (91.9%) of the 74 patients were cured, 6 (8.1%) were improved, and 0 (0%) were ineffective. Almost all patients were pleased with the telemedicine service, 71.9 0% were very satisfied (n = 62), 28.10% were very satisfied (n = 11), and 0% were dissatisfied (n = 0). CONCLUSIONS: Smartphone otoscopes telemedicine can decrease outpatient follow-up, reduce the risk of cross-infection, increase telemedicine accuracy, and improve patient satisfaction. It is worthy of clinical application in the COVID-19 era.

Management of ENT emergencies during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 imposed dramatic changes on ENT service delivery. Pre-pandemic, such changes would have been considered potentially unsafe. This study outlines the impact of lockdown on the incidence and management of ENT emergencies at a large UK centre. METHODS: After modification of pre-pandemic guidelines, ENT emergency referrals data during the UK lockdown were prospectively captured. A comparative analysis was performed with retrospective data from a corresponding period in 2019. RESULTS: An overall reduction (p < 0.001) in emergency referrals (n = 119) and admissions (n = 18) occurred during the lockdown period compared to the 2019 period (432 referrals and 290 admissions). Specifically, there were reduced admission rates for epistaxis (p < 0.0001) and tonsillar infection (p < 0.005) in the lockdown period. During lockdown, 90 per cent of patients requiring non-dissolvable nasal packing were managed as out-patients. CONCLUSIONS: Coronavirus disease 2019 compelled modifications to pre-pandemic ENT guidelines. The enforced changes to emergency care appear to be safe and successfully adopted. Arguably, the measures have both economic and patient-related implications post-coronavirus disease 2019 and during future similar pandemics and lockdowns.