Perioperative challenges in management of a deaf and dumb patient posted for high‑risk cardiac surgery.

ABSTRACT

Perioperative management of deaf and dumb patients can be a challenging task. For smooth postoperative recovery, proper care should begin in the preoperative period. Understanding the patients’ needs and training him to follow the instructions requires to involve a communication specialist. Judicious use of sedatives and analgesics is essential to keep the patient pain‑free and comfortable. Postoperatively, the patient should be kept awake, enough to understand the internal need of the body and to make a meaningful response to external stimuli. Adequate preoperative planning and coordinated team efforts with involvement of specialists can help in delivering better postoperative care.