Preparation of the Child For Anesthesia and Surgery

You will meet your child's anesthesiologist prior to his or her surgery. If your child is an in-patient you may be seen by an anesthesiologist the night before the scheduled surgery. The anesthesiologist will discuss your child's health and any medical problems he or she may have. The anesthesiologist will inquire about any previous anesthetic your child may have had and whether any family members have had difficulty with anesthesia. S/He will discuss the anesthetic plan with you and your child and answer any questions you have. We encourage both parents and children to ask questions and express any concerns they may have.

We want your child to be in the best possible health prior to surgery. It is not uncommon for children to develop a cold or other illness just prior to surgery. Depending on the nature of the illness and the type of surgery planned, it may be necessary to postpone the surgery. Your anesthesiologist will decide based on what s/he considers to be the safest course for your child.

It is very important to follow the instructions your surgeon gives you concerning food and liquid intake for your child before surgery. Anesthesia is safest when given to someone who has an empty stomach. If the stomach has food, liquid or a high acid content, it is possible to have a serious complication during anesthesia. We realize how difficult it is to deal with a hungry and thirsty infant or small child, but we would never want to put your child at any unnecessary risk. Children over the age of 1 year may ingest solid foods (which includes milk or formula) up until 6 hours prior to the scheduled procedure. Clear liquids (i.e., able juice, water, etc.) may be ingested up until 2 hours prior to the procedure. For children less than 1 year of age solid food is permitted up until 4 hours prior to the procedure, and clear liquids up until 2 hours prior to the procedure.

One of a parent's biggest concerns is how to prepare the child for an operation and the often frightening and confusing events which surround surgery. Children will be less fearful and will tolerate the experience much better when they are well prepared. The amount and kind of information you give your child will obviously depend on the age and development of the child; however, it is very important to be honest with your child no matter what the age. There are several ways to help inform yourself and your child about anesthesia and the hospital experience.

Please see other topics on Tours, Video, and Pre Operative Questionnaire in this section.