This article presents a case of sudden bilateral deafness in the context of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection and resultant coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). After treatment in the intensive care unit for acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute kidney failure, hearing ability had drastically changed. While hearing had been subjectively normal before the infection, deafness was now measured on the left and profound hearing loss on the right ear. The patient was treated with cochlea implants on the left and a hearing aid in the right ear. The hearing loss is most likely a complication of COVID-19.

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has a major impact on the diagnosis and treatment of ENT patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of the pandemic on the number of otolaryngological procedures, particularly for critical diagnoses with potential negative effects due to prolonged symptom duration. Methods We evaluated 10,716 surgical procedures between January 1, 2018 and May 31, 2020, focusing on the 16-week period around March 16, 2020, which includes 1080 observations. We further analyzed subsets of critical procedures. Results We found a decline in critical procedures by 43% although no critical procedures were postponed by the hospital. Meanwhile, the share of critical procedures increased up to 90% caused by the cancellation of elective surgery. Especially worrisome was that diagnostic procedures for suspected malignancies decreased by 41% during the pandemic. Conclusion The decline in critical procedures in otorhinolaryngology as collateral damage of the COVID-19 pandemic is considerable and therefore alarming.

Es wird über den Fall einer akuten Ertaubung beidseits im Rahmen einer Infektion mit dem „severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2“ (SARS-CoV2) und folgender Coronavirus-19-Erkrankung (COVID-19, „coronavirus disease 2019“) berichtet. Nach Intensivtherapie zur Behandlung eines akuten Lungen- sowie Nierenversagens fiel ein verändertes Hörvermögen auf. Während vor der Infektion subjektive Normakusis beidseits bestand, zeigte sich nun eine Surditas links und an Taubheit grenzende Schwerhörigkeit rechts. Es erfolgte die Cochleaimplantation links und Hörgeräteversorgung rechts. Als Ursache der Hörminderung ist von einer Komplikation durch COVID-19 auszugehen.

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