Pediatrics

What can I expect for my child’s anesthetic care? You can expect to meet with one of our physician anesthesiologists either in the preoperative clinic or in the hospital before your child’s planned surgery. We will discuss your child’s medical history with you and work to understand any concerns you might have about anesthesia. We encourage you to take this opportunity to ask questions to ensure that you are as comfortable and knowledgeable about your child’s anesthetic as possible. On the day of surgery you will have an opportunity to meet with your child’s anesthesiologist. This physician may or may not be the same person with whom you met in the anesthesia clinic. Your child’s physician anesthesiologist will ensure that all of your questions have been answered. You child may be given a premedication by mouth (cherry flavored syrup) to ease anxiety. How will my child be anesthetized? How your child will be sedated or anesthetized will depend on several variables including age and type of surgery. Younger children are often given an oral premedication in the holding area to begin relaxing them. Most children go to sleep in the operating room by breathing oxygen and anesthetic gases through a scented face mask. Older children may elect to have an iv placed and go to sleep with medicine injected into the iv. Can I go back to the operating room with my child? If your child is between the ages of 12 months and 12 years you may be invited to be present during the anesthetic induction for your child’s procedure. We welcome your input and participation but have certain guidelines that need to be followed. 1. Presence of the parent is at the discretion of the anesthesiologist. In some circumstances it is safer for the child if the parent does not come to the operating room. This includes but is not limited to emergency surgery 2. Only one parent may accompany the child. If you are extremely apprehensive, you do not have to accompany your child, and we encourage you to remain in the waiting area. 3. No photographic equipment will be allowed. 4. You will be present for the induction of anesthesia only. Once your child is asleep, you will accompanied back to the waiting area. When can I see my child after surgery? The recovery room staff make every effort to reunite you with your child as soon as possible. The initial goals upon arrival to the recovery room are to ensure that your child is safe and emerging from anesthesia without complication. Each child emerges differently from anesthesia, some are quickly awake, others may be groggy and sleepy for several hours afterwards. We will ensure your child’s safety in the recovery room after the procedure and will make sure any pain is treated and controlled. What are the risks of Anesthesia? Anesthesia today is much safer than it has ever been. While all anesthesia has an element of risk, serious complications are extremely rare in healthy patients. There are some common side effects associated with all anesthetics that can be anticipated but not always avoided, just like one can expect to have some drowsiness from taking cold medicines. These side effects are generally short-lived. The most common ones are:

grumpiness upon waking from anesthesia sore throat nausea and vomiting drowsiness and dizziness shivering

Serious and major risks, which occur only rarely in healthy children, include severe allergic reactions, croupy cough, wheezing, vocal cord spasm or injury and aspiration. The most serious of all anesthetic risks are brain damage and death; fortunately these complications are exceedingly rare. In the United States, the risk of a healthy child dying or sustaining a severe or permanent injury from anesthesia is much less than the risk of injury and death from riding in a car.

 

For further information about the safety of anesthesia for infants and young children, please follow the link to