Make sure you understand what’s planned and why.
The best way to help your child be ready for surgery is to be ready yourself. Take time to discuss questions or concerns in advance with your pediatrician, surgeon and anesthesiologist. If you’re anxious, discuss it with your child’s doctors, preferably without your child in the room.
Talk with your child.
Once you understand exactly what’s going to happen, you’ll be better able to talk calmly and confidently with your child. Honesty is the key.
Provide an upfront and honest explanation with a level of detail and language that are age appropriate. Tell your child that you’ll be separated only a short time and that someone will be there to make sure everything’s OK. Even though the surroundings will be unfamiliar, there will be many friendly doctors and nurses close by.
Reassure your child that nothing bad will happen from the surgery and that it needs to be done to fix a problem that won’t go away by itself. There may be some soreness afterward but the doctors and nurses will be there to make it feel better.
Your composure as a parent is essential. Nothing calms a child more than a confident parent. Although it’s natural to feel nervous and afraid when your child is having surgery, share these feelings with family members and friends instead of with your child.
Meet with your ARCh anesthesiologist.
The ARCh anesthesiologist who’ll care for your child will contact you the evening prior to surgery to review important aspects of your child’s health. We ensure that your child is in the best possible physical condition before surgery. Based on this information we will determine the optimal anesthetic technique and go over this plan with you. This is also a good time for your child to ask questions and express any concerns he/she might have to the anesthesiologist.
We’ll ask you about your child’s:
- Prior anesthesia/surgical history
- Prior family history of problems with surgery or anesthesia
- Current medical conditions
- Current medications
- Allergies to medication
Sometimes sniffles, colds and other minor illnesses can cause problems during some types of surgery and anesthesia. For this reason, on rare occasions, we may feel it best to postpone your child’s surgery. Remember that we always have your child’s safety in mind.
Follow our fasting guidelines.
Anesthesia is slightly less safe when given to a patient with a full stomach because, in rare cases, it can result in “aspiration.” Aspiration occurs when stomach contents end up in the lungs. This life-threatening situation endangers the patient and can lead to a serious pneumonia.
Please be sure to allow enough time between the time your child last eats or drinks and the scheduled time of the procedure. The time ranges from eight hours for solid foods to three hours for water and other clear liquids.
- Three hours for clear liquids (water, Pedialyte, fruit juices without pulp, carbonated beverages, Popsicles, Gatorade and Kool Aid)
- Four hours for breast milk
- Six hours for infant formula
- Six hours for non-human milk
- Eight hours for solids
We may modify these guidelines based on your child’s other medical conditions.