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My Child Is Having Surgery
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pediatric anesthesiologist?
A pediatric anesthesiologist is a physician trained to direct the presurgical and peri-operative care of infants and children. They are involved with the preoperative evaluation, administration of anesthesia and post-operative care of pediatric patients. While the pediatric anesthesiologist may not meet you or your child face-to-face until the day of the surgery, rest assured that he or she knows your child’s medical history and surgical plan. We carefully and methodically create an anesthetic plan to safely care for your child throughout their procedure.
How can I help my child prepare for surgery?
Millions of children have surgery every year, but that may be little comfort to you if your child is one of them. It’s normal to feel anxious, but preparing yourself and your child as much as possible beforehand will help ensure that your child is safe and healthy and that you can rest at ease knowing they’re in good hands. For more resources on how to prepare for your child’s surgery, head to the link below.
Is anesthesia safe for my child?
Overall, anesthesia is very safe. More common side effects include nausea, sore throat and confusion after anesthesia. Typically, these effects resolve after a short period of time. In very rare cases, anesthesia can cause complications in children, such as abnormal heart rhythms, breathing problems, or an allergic reaction to certain medications.
Physicians and scientists have been studying the effects of anesthesia on the developing brain for two decades and continue to do research on the subject. Recently published research indicates that short, brief exposure to anesthesia in patients, age three years and under, is unlikely to cause long-term cognitive effects on behavior and learning.
There are concerns about young children undergoing repeated or prolonged use of general anesthesia or longer surgeries (more than three hours); however, many conditions require multiple anesthetics so the benefit may outweigh the risk. Please be sure to talk to your child’s doctor, surgeon and/or anesthesiologist about any concerns. To learn more please visit https://smarttots.org/ and https://pedsanesthesia.org/.
Can I be with my child during surgery?
You will be with your child as we prepare them for surgery in the pre-surgical holding area. When it’s time for surgery, our team will accompany your child to the operating room while you wait in the waiting room. When surgery is over, your child will wake up in the recovery room. When your child is awake with stable vital signs, you’ll be brought to their bedside.
Will my child receive an IV?
We understand that this is a very nerve-wracking time for you and your child and worries about IV placement are often at the top of the list. Depending on your child’s age, medical history, and type of surgery an IV may be required prior to anesthesia. However, most children will fall asleep by breathing anesthesia gas through a mask and will have an IV placed after they are under anesthesia. The anesthesiologist taking care of your child will discuss their plan for IV placement with you on the day of surgery. Additionally, children can be given medication to drink before surgery to help them relax and make them sleepy. This helps our team take them safely to the operating room and reduces their worries. They’ll also be able to bring blankets and/or comfort items with them into the operating room.
What is emergence delirium?
Emergence delirium is a condition that can occur when children are waking up from anesthesia. Your child may appear to be confused or distressed (crying or screaming). They may not respond to commands or to your voice. While this can be distressing for the parents, there are no long term consequences to your child and they do not remember the event. This condition usually resolves quickly, however, if it is prolonged, several medications can be administered to calm your child. Typically, the most common ages affected by emergence delirium are 2-10 years old. If your child has experienced this during a previous surgery, be sure to notify your anesthesiologist.
Will my child have pain?
It’s completely normal and expected to have some discomfort after surgery. We believe it’s of great importance to manage your child’s pain adequately. Our anesthesiologists provide pain medications and numbing medications to help reduce the amount of discomfort. Your child’s treatment plan will depend on their medical history and what surgery they’re having. Your anesthesiologist will review their pain plan with you before surgery.
What if my child is sick with a cold before surgery?
Having a cold or illness can increase the risk for lung or airway complications for your child. Because of this, we prefer to wait until the cold has resolved to give your child anesthesia. If your child is sick, we ask that you contact your surgeon to discuss rescheduling the procedure. Sometimes, the surgery cannot be postponed, for example, if it is an emergency surgery. If the surgery must proceed, our anesthesiologists are knowledgeable in the diagnosis and treatment of complications related to respiratory infections and can safely care for your child. On the day of the surgery, your anesthesiologist will listen to their lungs to make sure it is safe to proceed with anesthesia.
How do you know how much anesthesia to give my child?
The amount and type of anesthesia needed will depend on your child’s size/weight and what surgery they’re having. To make sure the correct amount is given, your child will be weighed on the day of surgery.
What if I still have more questions?
If you still have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out using the Contact Us link at the top of our website. Additionally, the American Society of Anesthesiologists patient resource center may have the answers to your questions, too.