Introduction

Many countries have adopted a strategy of quarantining their population since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of these measures is to flatten the curve of infections to avoid overwhelming the healthcare system. Postponing elective surgeries, in addition to the aforementioned measures, increases medical resources to treat COVID-19 patients.

China was the first country to report a high incidence of healthcare workers infected with COVID-19 [1]. This trend was also eventually seen in other countries that experienced a surge of COVID-19 [2, 3].

A better understanding of viral transmission leads to reduced risk for healthcare workers. It has been shown adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) substantially reduces the risk of transmission in patient care settings [4].

Aerosol generating procedures (AGP) result in a higher risk of transmission. Obvious AGPs include endotracheal intubation, tracheostomy and surgery of the airway. Surgery of middle ear and mastoid is also considered an AGP and carries a similar risk to hospital personal as other more obvious AGPs. In particular, mastoidectomy may aerosolize viral particles, resulting in a high risk of transmission to operating room staff [4].

Transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES) is an effective approach to address many otologic conditions and may avoid a mastoidectomy. A more widespread use of TEES during the pandemic can reduce the need for mastoidectomy and decrease exposure to the operating room staff to COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 and infection pathway

The viral load within the upper airway, particularly in nasal fossa and nasopharynx [5] exposes otolaryngologists to a risk of viral infection with instrumentation of these areas. The main infection pathway of respiratory viruses involves the upper airways [6] and eyes [7]. Personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers include N95/FFP2 masks, gloves, goggles or full-face shields and gowns [4]. PPE is the best protection against the viral spread in the operating room; however, avoiding an AGP would decrease the chance of infecting operating room staff further.

SARS-CoV-2 and middle ear/mastoid

Currently, there is no evidence SARS-CoV-2 is present in the middle ear and mastoid. The presence of other respiratory viruses, including other human coronaviruses, has been identified in middle ear effusions [8]. Considering the epithelium of the middle ear and the mastoid is similar to the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, the middle ear and mastoid may be a significant reservoir for viral particles in COVID-19 positive patients [9].

Aerosolizing otologic procedures

There is evidence airborne transmission of respiratory viruses can occur if the virus is aerosolized [10]. Mastoidectomy and other procedures that use a high-speed drill are AGPs. If the virus is present within these aerosols, the risk of a transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to the operating room staff may be significant.

Background about TEES

The endoscope was initially introduced in otology as an adjunct to the operating microscope. The limited straight-line view of the microscope makes visualization of certain anatomical regions (e.g. facial recess, sinus tympani, epitympanum) difficult. This leads to a higher incidence of canal wall up and sometimes canal wall down mastoidectomy procedures.

The endoscope provides a panoramic, magnified and angled field of view of the middle ear [11, 12]. Endoscopes were initially used to inspect for residual cholesteatoma primarily in the epitympanum and the retrotympanum, after using a microscopic approach [13,14,15,16,17]. Advances in technology resulted in endoscopes with a smaller diameter and enhanced image definition that now facilitates a minimally invasive surgical technique using the external auditory canal as a pathway to the middle ear.

Acquired cholesteatomas originate from the tympanic membrane and extend to anatomical spaces of the middle ear and the mastoid according to ventilation routes [18]. Starting from the tympanic membrane, the cholesteatoma is removed systematically using transcanal endoscopic direct vision. A reduced need for soft tissue and bone removal, as compared to the microscope, is performed to improve the visualization of anatomical spaces, preserve mucosa and maintain gas exchange within the mastoid.

TEES provides improved visualization of the retrotympanum, thus often avoiding the need for a transmastoid posterior tympanotomy approach. Endoscopic visualization of the epitympanum is optimal, and may result in preserving the ossicular chain in the case of cholesteatoma of the lateral epitympanum [19]. Extension of cholesteatoma posterior to the dome of the lateral semicircular canal is considered the limit of the transcanal approach [20]. A traditional postauricular microscopic transmastoid approach may be used in combination with the endoscope in cases with mastoid extension.

In the current COVID-19 pandemic, recommendations have been made to postpone elective surgery and to avoid mastoidectomy, preventing infection of healthcare workers [4, 9, 21–22]. In regions where the pandemic is active, has begun to plateau or decline, the use of the endoscopy may be an alternative to aerosolizing procedures with mastoidectomy by limiting indications and extent of mastoid drilling and increasing the use of curettes whenever is possible. Endoscopic procedures, unlike using a microscope, allow for a heads-up approach in the clinic and operating room thus permitting the use of eye protection with goggles or a full-face shields.

Conclusion

TEES is uniquely suited to treat chronic otitis media during the COVID-19 pandemic. TEES often eliminates the need for a mastoidectomy, and thus avoiding an AGP that could infect the operating room staff. TEES also allows for the use of eye protection (goggles, face shields) that is more difficult to use with the microscope. The current patient care challenges posed by COVID-19 further illustrate the advantages of having different tools and approaches, such as TEES, to treat chronic otitis media.