Questions to ask before your child has surgery
My daughter had a (minor) surgery in 2020 but I remember being so nervous.
In this post, I share some of the things to think about if your child will undergo general anesthesia.
Is Anesthesia Safe?
Yes.
General anesthesia is *very* safe. My board-certified pediatric anesthesiology colleagues have completed many years of training & are conscientious, smart & have the same priority as you: to keep your child safe!
What to expect before and after surgery
In most cases, you will also get to meet the anesthesiologist before your child’s procedure (sometimes for a pre-op visit a few days before, and always in the pre-operative area). This is a good opportunity to discuss risks and what you can do to keep your child comfortable before, during and after the procedure.
The Pediatrician Mom Tip: it can be helpful to write your questions down ahead of time. The pre-op area can be overwhelming (and your child may be anxious) and it is easy to forget what you wanted to ask in the hubbub.
Before, during and after
The anesthesiologist team monitors your child’s vital signs during and after the surgery. In most cases, your child will stay in the post-operative recovery area until they are awake, pain-free and comfortable, which may take several hours. Depending on the surgery, she may then be discharged, or transferred into the inpatient bed for further care.
Questions to consider asking
Will the anesthesiologist be present for the entire procedure? If not, who will be monitoring your child & how does supervision work (if it is a nurse anesthetist or PA doing the actual sedation).
How long is the procedure?
What type of anesthesia will they use, & what are the risks?
Make sure you are able to discuss your child’s medical history thoroughly, as well as medications, allergies, & pertinent family history (especially if anyone has had problems with anesthesia, surgery, pain, or bleeding).
Discuss any particular fears your child might have (eg, a fear of needles).
If your child takes regular medication, make sure you discuss whether or not they should take it on the morning of the surgery. Bring a list of medications.
Clarify timing. In many places, surgeries are ordered based on the age of the child. But if there is any flexibility, try to be one of the earliest cases. This will hopefully minimize the need to distract a hungry and anxious child for several hours.
Ask if you can be with your child during the earliest stage of sedation. (May not be allowed during Covid).
Other Considerations
Adhere to the pre-op instructions carefully: Typically, your child will be instructed not to eat anything for several hours prior to the surgery. This is because anesthesia interferes with the normal reflexes that prevent aspiration of food into the lungs in the event of vomiting.
Talk to the surgeon and the anesthesiologist about what to expect afterwards: What should you expect in terms of pain, appetite, and physical activity? This is important to know so you can stay on top of pain medication (or keeping your child restful, which is admittedly easier said than done).
Make sure you are clear about red flags: What should you watch out for afterwards, and when should you call the doctor? Write down the contact information of the on-call physician as well as when they would like you to follow up. The post-op area can feel like a blur.
The Pediatrician Mom tip: take a pen and notepad with you on the day, along with a favorite comfort item for before and after (if it is allowed).
Thankfully, my daughter’s surgery went well, and it was a quick operation with a fairly easy recovery. That did not stop me from being very worried, and questioning whether or not we were making the right decision by going forward with the surgery.
However, I completely trusted our urologist’s instincts and felt very comfortable that he had weighed the pros and cons of surgery before making the recommendation to proceed. If your child needs surgery, make sure you have found a team you trust, and get second opinions if you are not certain you are making the right decision.
