The Changing Elective Surgery Profile During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective Comparative Cohort Analysis from an Otolaryngology Clinic

ABS TRACT Objective: The study aims to investigate the change in the profile of elective otorhinolaryngologic surgeries performed during the pandemic. Material and Methods: Ear nose throat surgical procedures performed in Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital-Department of Otorhinolaryngology between March-Decem-ber 2019 and March-December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. No statistical methods were used in the study. All data were reported as percentages, numbers and bar charts on tables. Results: It was observed that the number of elective surgeries performed on 875 patients in the pre-pandemic period decreased to 243. The most common elective surgery performed in both periods was septoplasty. Septoplasty operation was 30.4% of all elective surgeries before the pandemic and 36.21% during the pandemic period. The rate of transoral surgeries was 25.37% before the pandemic and 18.1% during the pandemic. Transnasal surgeries comprised 45.71% of elective surgeries before the pandemic and 48.14% during the pandemic. Ear surgeries were 16% of elective surgeries before the pandemic and 16.87% during the pandemic period. While mastoidectomy among ear surgeries comprised 1.6% of all elective surgeries, this rate was 4.93% during the pandemic period. Facial plastic surgery operations comprised 21.02% of elective surgeries before the pandemic and 22.63% during the pandemic period. Conclusion: The coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic caused changes in the number and profile of otorhinolaryngology surgeries. The rates of facial cosmetic procedures and chronic otitis surgeries with a tendency for complications have increased. The incidence of vestibulitis has increased in the postoperative period in transnasal operations.