The IOOG ‘Categorization of tympanomastoid surgery’ was presented for the first time at a scientific session at the meeting. The aim of the session was to identify areas of potential ambiguity. Ninety-four international delegates attended the session. Each delegate was provided with a printed handout of the SAMEO-ATO system together with diagrams. There was widespread support for the principles and design of the SAMEO-ATO system.
Several delegates requested inclusion of additional subtypes of surgical procedures within the SAMEO-ATO scheme, but accepted that this would make the system more complicated and less user-friendly. The delegates were asked to give a show of hands at the end of the session. Sixty persons indicated approval of the SAMEO-ATO scheme and none indicated disapproval.