After Your Child's Surgery
After Your Child's Surgery
After surgery, your child will be moved to the phase 1 recovery room for close observation and care. Some children are admitted directly from the operating room to the intensive care unit. Your child may awaken quickly or sleep for what seems like a long time. As soon as it is possible for you to safely be with your child, we will call you! The recovery room nurse will guide and assist you in helping to provide the safest care during this stage of anesthesia. Sometimes this can mean quietly and patiently watching your child rest. Your nurse is experienced in the safest care for children who have had anesthesia and will let you know when it is time to touch or hold your child.
Learn more about how to help your child prepare for surgery with the helpful Pediatric Surgery Resources below.
Recovery Phase I
During this phase, your child will be closely monitored and may need oxygen. An oxygen monitor will be wrapped around his or her finger or toe and an IV and blood pressure cuff may be in place. Any special needs from surgery (such as a cast or dressing) will also be present.
Some pain can be expected after surgery. Doctors and nurses will try to keep your child as comfortable as possible. For children approximately 6 years of age and older, a number scale is used to measure the amount of pain they feel. The Pain Scale uses 0 for “no hurt at all” and 10 for “the biggest hurt you could ever have.” If possible, your child will be asked to give their pain a number from 0-10. This helps the doctor or nurse provide the best pain medicine to manage his or her pain. Most medications are given through the child’s IV.
Your child may experience some side effects of anesthesia and surgery. These can include:
- Funny taste in the mouth
- Dry or sore throat
- Short memory lapse
- Blurred vision
- Sleepiness and hyperactivity
- Nausea and vomiting
- Mood changes/crankiness
- Face or upper body flush
- Dizziness
Outpatient Recovery Phase II
Children going home the same day of surgery (outpatients) are moved from phase I to the phase II recovery room. Discharge instructions will be reviewed with you here. Once your child can tolerate clear liquids and the pain is controlled, he or she will be discharged from phase II and transported to the parking structure in a wheelchair. Younger children and infants can be carried or ride in a stroller.
After surgery, try to keep things simple for your child. He or she may feel pain while healing. To speed healing, it is important to manage the pain. Follow the doctor’s orders for giving pain medicine and do your best to help your child cope with pain.
Overnight Stay
You can accompany your child if he or she is moved from phase I and admitted to a hospital room. At Mott, patient care is family focused so you will be encouraged to help with many aspects of your child’s care.
You play a very important role in preparing your child for what to expect before, during and after surgery. We understand that it can be stressful for everyone. Please let us know if you have any concerns so that we can make your stay with us a little easier.
