Your child is having an operation

                        You as a parent have an important role to play; you must make this experience positive and not scary. You will normally receive a booklet with information, read this to your child, if your child has any questions

                         Besides the surgeon who will be performing the operation you will need to speak to an anaesthetist. An anaesthetist is a Doctor who has done further training on anaesthetics, therefore becoming a specialist; he will be in charge of keeping your child pain free and comfortable during and after the operation. The anaesthetist will monitor and stay with your child at all times while he sleeps. During the operation the anaesthetist will be monitoring your child’s breathing, heartbeat, temperature and blood pressure.

                       For any type of surgery you need to fast this means you must not eat or drink anything. The reason for this is because while you are asleep your protective reflexes do not work, so if there is fluid or food in your stomach it can run back to your mouth and go down into your lungs, this can cause many complications. Fasting is done for adults and children alike, for the same reasons.

                      One parent will be allowed to accompany the child into the anaesthetic room. Make sure you are calm; your child will be more upset if they can feel you are nervous. Your child will be given either an injection or a gas to breathe through a mask; this gas will take a few minutes to work. If the injection method is used your child will have some cream put on the back of their hand. This cream will numb the area and the anaesthetist will put a small plastic tube and needle into the vein, the needle is then removed and the tubing left in the vein. The anaesthetic is then injected through this tubing. You will be allowed to stay till your child is asleep. You will then return to the ward to wait. If you decide to go for a coffee or walk let someone know in case you are needed.

                     After the operation the child will spend some time in the recovery room. In this room the child will be monitored by a nurse until he is fully awake. If your child becomes upset you may be called in to sit with them. Today’s anaesthetic drugs are very safe and complications are rare, most children will recover quickly, but some may suffer affects, this can include;

n      Headaches

n      Sore throat

n      Dizziness

n      Vomit

                    These affects only last a short time and there are medicines that will be given to stop these effects. When the child is fully awake and comfortable they will be returned to the ward.

                    With any operation make sure you ask about your concerns, do not hold back you have a right to know, between your surgeon and your anaesthetist all questions should be answered. If your child becomes unwell prior to the operation it may need to be postponed. Contact your Doctor and he will inform you.

                    I hope this helps………………..