OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on operative practices of otology and neurotology providers internationally. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. METHODS: A 78-question survey was distributed to otologists and neurotologists between May 12, 2020 and June 8, 2020 to assess the impact of the pandemic on surgical practices. Sections within the survey delineated time periods: prior to the crisis, onset of the crisis, during the crisis, postcrisis transition. RESULTS: Of 396 survey respondents, 284 participants from 38 countries met inclusion criteria.Respondents were 16.9% female and 82.4% male, with a most common age range of 40 to 49 years (36.3%). 69.8% of participants had been in practice for over 10 years and most respondents worked in an academic medical center (79.2%). The average operative weekly caseload was 5.3 (SD 3.9) per surgeon prior to the crisis, 0.7 (SD 1.2) during the COVID-19 crisis, and 3.5 (SD 3.3) for those who had begun a postcrisis transition at the time of survey administration (p < 0.001). 71.5% of providers did not perform an elective otologic or neurotologic operative procedure during the initial crisis period. 49.8% reported modifying their surgical technique due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Use of powered air-purifying respirators and filtering facepiece 2 or 3 (FFP2/FFP3) respirators were in minimal supply for 66.9% and 62.3% of respondents, respectively. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the otology and neurotology community globally, resulting in significant changes in operative volume and case selection. Modification of surgical technique and shortages of personal protective equipment were frequently reported.

Causse Ear Clinic Colombiers France

Department of Medical Research Taipei Veterans General Hospital

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons New York Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center New York

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Faculty of Medicine and Health Science Macquarie University Sydney Australia

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Massachusetts Eye and Ear Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai and Mount Sinai Beth Israel Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Taipei Veterans General Hospital

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Columbus Ohio

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Cleveland Ohio

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery University Hospitals Leuven

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery University of Massachusetts Medical Center Worcester Massachusetts

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas Texas

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine Japan

Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck and Maxillofacial Surgery Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center Sackler School of Medicine Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv Israel

Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc Czech Republic

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Asan Medical Center University of Ulsan College of Medicine Seoul Korea

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery University Hospital of Verona Verona Italy

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery University of Tuebingen Tuebingen Germany

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón Madrid Spain

Department of Otorhinolaryngology University of Glasgow University Hospital Monklands Scotland United Kingdom

KU Leuven Department of Neurosciences ExpORL Belgium

Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital University College London Ear Institute University College London London United Kingdom

Royal North Shore Hospital Division of Otolaryngology Head and Neck surgery Discipline of Surgery Sydney Medical School University of Sydney

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital University of Sydney Sydney Australia

School of Medicine National Yang Ming University Taipei Taiwan

Sinus and Oto Centro Hospital Geral de Fortaleza Rua Dr José Furtado Fortaleza Brazil

Tarabichi Stammberger Ear and Sinus Institute Dubai United Arab Emirates

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