Pre-Medication

Premedication used to be given routinely to children before surgery. However this often involved an injection and it also prolonged the recovery. We now realize that by far the most effective (and safest!) premedication is parental reassurance. If a child has had some preparation, and parents are calm, the anesthesiologist can usually establish a rapport with the child and take them into the operating room without undue anxiety on the child's part. In some cases, if the child is extremely anxious or is unable to cooperate we will give a premedication. A premedication can usually be given by mouth or as nose drops. Your anesthesiologist will discuss it with you if he feels a premedication would be beneficial for your child. Older babies and toddlers' main concern is being carried off by a stranger and we understand that they will not be happy. The important thing for a parent to keep in mind is that the toddler will only be awake for a few minutes after leaving the parent, and that we do nothing that is painful while he or she is falling asleep. In certain situations, and only with the consent of the anesthesiologist, the child can go to sleep in the presence of one parent. The presence of a parent during the induction of anesthesia is determined by the anesthesiologist on an individual basis. This option is only offered if it is felt not to effect the safety and well being of your child. Feel free to discuss this option with your child's anesthesiologist.