Patient-Related long-term outcome measures after mastoid surgery at a tertiary care center of North India: A retrospective analysis

Background: Long-term postsurgical follow-up in chronic otitis media (COM) is crucial in otologic practice for outcome assessment. Validated questionnaires for the same are robust alternatives when physical visits are not feasible such as the current COVID-19 pandemic and we present our findings of outcome assessment using COM outcome test (COMOT)-15 questionnaire through nonphysical mode. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of a cohort of 112 patients of COM who underwent surgery by the single senior otology surgeon between 2009 and 2019 was done using COMOT 15 questionnaire through telephonic methods to circumvent the need of office visits. Results: Fifty out of 112 patients could be contacted and consented for the assessment and their COMOT-15 scores were obtained. The numbers of patients with any otologic symptoms and their need for consultations, except hearing loss were significantly less. One-third of the patients had mild to moderate residual hearing loss and its quality of life impacts, although the same neither was statistically significant nor required increased numbers of consultations. Conclusion: Bothering symptoms and the need for a frequent visit to the doctor is significantly less with adequate clearance of disease and mastoid obliteration in cases of canal wall down procedures. The residual mild-to-moderate hearing loss are not significant and manageable with day-to-day activities. Successful outcome of COM surgery needs long-term follow-up and evaluation by all practicing otologic departments and surgeons which can well be done through nonphysical modes in unprecedented situations like the current times.