Parents have a key role in preparing their children for the day of surgery.  Children tolerate surgery and anesthesia better when their anxieties are minimized by discussing the events that they can expect beforehand.  Reassure your child that while you may not be with him/her the whole time he/she will be safe and you will be close by.

Most children require medicine to ease the separation from their parents.  This medication is usually given by mouth, but the anesthesiologist will select the type of medication and route of administration that is best for your child.  Anesthesia in children is usually started by letting them breathe anesthetic agents through a mask until thy are unconscious with no needle sticks until after they are asleep.  Some children will need an intravenous injection to go to sleep.  

Upon awakening , some children are very alert and some are sleepy for hours.  Your child will continue to be monitored closely.  Pain management usually begins before the surgery starts as many of our premedications have some "painkillers' included.  This is usually supplemented after your child is asleep with intravenous injections or the injection of local anesthetics or numbing medicine.  Nausea and vomiting are occasional side effects after surgery but are treated very aggressively if they occur.

DAY OF SURGERY

Checklist

o List of current medications and dosages best to bring bottles or packages with you).

o Reports from any special studies your child may have had (i.e. Echocardiograms).

o An empty bottle or cup and special toy or blanket.

o Remove nail polish, jewelry and makeup.

o Please do not wear 
contact lenses.

o No food or drinks in the preoperative area because the children are not allowed to 
eat or drink.

o Preoperative feeding .instructions. Although some surgical procedures may be brief, the anesthetic is never minor.  These procedures must be followed for all children.

o At midnight the evening before surgery, stop all food including all orange juice, solids, candy, gum, mile and milk products, formulas and cereal.

 o Your child may breast feed until 3 hours prior to the time you are told to be at the hospital.

o Your child may drink clear fluids until 2 hours prior to the time you are told to be at the hospital.  Clear fluids include water, apple juice, clear juices without pulp, soda, pedialyte and jello.

o If your child is ill prior to coming to the hospital (wheezing, fever, vomiting),
 call your surgeon.