Table 2.

Otologic and otoneurologic surgery: best practice advice in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic (adapted to take account of [9]).

Otologic surgery
Group	Pathology or type of procedure	Recommended approach
Group A
Surgery that cannot be postponed	Complicated otomastoiditis (lateral sinus thrombophlebitis, neuromeningeal damage, facial paralysis, temporomandibular arthritis, etc.) Osteo-meningeal breacha Cochlear implant for fibrosing labyrinthitis Cholesteatoma with CSL fistula and associated symptoms that rule out surgery	Emergency treatment
Group B
Risk of prognostic impact if treatment delayed for more than a month	Middle ear cholesteatoma with mildly symptomatic CSL fistula Osteo-meningeal breacha	Postpone surgery Reassess the patient after 1 month and adapt the treatment programme according to the course of the disease and the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic
Group C
No prognostic impact if treatment delayed for a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks	Tympanoplasty for uncomplicated cholesteatomas, tympanic retraction pockets, perforated eardrums, grommet insertion, ossiculoplasty, ear implant	Postpone surgery Reassess the patient after 6 to 8 weeks and adapt the treatment programme according to the course of the disease and the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic

Otoneurologic surgery
Group	Pathology or type of procedure	Recommended approach
Group A
Surgery that cannot be postponed	Serious head injury in ENT-Neurosurgical joint team Malignant tumour of the temporal bone and the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) Benign tumour of the CPA with IH or fast-growing or sudden-onset functional deficit (visual problems, hemiplegia, paraplegia, etc.)	Immediate treatment For poorly-tolerated benign tumours of the CPA, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt is usually preferred to excision of the tumour
Group B
Risk of prognostic impact if treatment delayed for more than a month	All other cases	Postpone surgery Reassess the patient after 1 month and adapt the treatment programme according to the course of the disease and the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic

^aDegree of urgency to be discussed on a case-by-case basis.