Anesthesia can
be safely administered to children in a hospital, a
freestanding ambulatory center or a suitably
equipped physician’s office. Many procedures for
children are often done in such outpatient settings.
Children benefit from the early return to
comfortable and familiar surroundings. Parents
benefit because of less time away from other family
members and less interruption in their work
schedules.
In some
facilities, there may be programs to help prepare
you and your child for ambulatory surgery and
anesthesia. In these programs, you may visit the
facility, see equipment that will be used and ask
questions regarding anesthesia, surgery and
recovery.
On the day of
surgery, your child should not eat solid food. The
anesthesiologist may allow clear liquids to be given
two or three hours prior to surgery. Parents should
plan to stay in the facility during their child’s
procedure and to make every attempt to have siblings
stay home.
Upon arrival
at the surgical facility, a nurse will check vital
signs and orient you and your child. The
anesthesiologist will conduct a preoperative
interview and physical exam and discuss the
anesthetic plan. For most children, general
anesthesia is the preferred form of anesthesia.
Anesthesia may begin with intravenous medication, or
with breathing anesthetic through a facemask, and
then, an intravenous line may be placed after your
child is asleep. This may be supplemented by local
anesthesia injected by the surgeon or
anesthesiologist to control postoperative pain.
After surgery, your child will awaken in a recovery
area where a nurse will check vital signs, the
surgical site and pain control.
Before going
home, your child may be offered something to drink.
Parents will receive detailed instructions regarding
post-anesthetic and post-surgical care. All
questions should be answered and you should feel
comfortable taking your child home from the
facility.
