Surgery Preparation
Within 30 days of yours or your child’s surgery, we will obtain a brief medical history that will be reviewed by the anesthesiologist to ensure that he or she is a candidate for outpatient surgery. You can provide this history over the phone with one of our qualified nurses, or you can complete this online.
If needed, the only non-prescription pain medication that can be taken in the 10 days prior to surgery is acetaminophen (Tylenol). If non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications – Ecotrin, Excedrin, Bayer, Alka-Seltzer, Anacin, Bufferin, ect. – are taken within 10 days of surgery, it may result in yours or your child’s surgery being cancelled.
Two business days before your surgery, you will be contacted with arrival and exact surgery times. We will also remind you what you can and cannot eat and drink and what medications can and cannot be taken the night before and the morning of surgery. Plan to arrive one to 1.5 hours before yours or your child’s schedule surgery, and do not have any food, milk, mints, candy or gum after midnight the night prior to surgery.
Day of Surgery
On the day of surgery, dress yourself or your child in a comfortable two-piece outfit with no metal in the bottoms like snaps, zippers or eyelets. Ideal options include:
- Gym shorts
- Sweatpants
- Pajama bottoms
Your or your child may be allowed to wear an undershirt under the hospital gown during surgery for a more comfortable experience. You might also want to consider bring a change of clothing for your child in case of an upset stomach, accident or spill.
For children, surgery can be a frightening experience, and we’ve learned that it’s soothing to bring along a child’s favorite toy, blanket or pacifier. You may also want to bring an empty sippy cup for your child of he or she still uses one for after surgery.
Adults and children with ear and other piercings need to leave all jewelry at home. For specific questions related to body piercings, contact the Pre-Admission Testing Department at (614)451-5042, (614)451-5039, or toll free at 1-888-451-3313.
If your child is having surgery, a legal guardian must remain in the facility for the entire length of the child’s stay. If the child’s legal guardian is unable to be present the day of surgery, the adult must present a notarized power of attorney, and we must be notified prior to the date of surgery. For child who are wards of the state, we will contact their assigned case work to get consent for anesthesia and surgery.
When you arrive, provide the patient’s name to the admitting receptionist, and we will register you or your child. We will also ask you to confirm demographic information and sign a few forms. Following registration, a nurse will call your or your child’s name where you will be escorted to the pre-op area. Parents should initially accompany their child so you can speak with the anesthesiologist. Female children of menstruating age will be asked to provide a urine sample in the pre-op area to test for pregnancy.
Pre-op medication will be given by mouth. Medication typically include:
- Pre-dose for pain
- Medication to prevent nausea or vomiting
- Medication to help your or your child relax and ease anxiety
Pre-op medication is customized to the procedure and the anesthesiologist’s recommendations based on the child’s medical history. Children weighing less than 100 pounds will be given their IV once they are asleep. Those weighing more than 100 pounds will be given their IV in the pre-op area.
The Operating Room Nursing Staff will provide you with a copy of your child’s Bear Essentials. This is our version of surgeon- and procedure-specific discharge instructions. Please review these while your child is in surgery and write down any questions that you have.
Post-Surgery
You will wait in the lobby while your child’s surgery is performed. Once the surgery is complete, the Admitting Receptionist will escort you and your family into a private interview room. Your child’s surgeon will meet you in there and provide you with all the details of the surgery. He/She will also answer any questions that you have about the discharge instructions.
At this point your child is in the first phase of PACU (post-anesthesia care unit), and will still be asleep from the anesthesia. PACU is the first area of recovery where your child will receive one-on-one nursing care as they awake from anesthesia. It is not unusual for this phase of recovery to take 45 minutes or longer.
Once your child has started coming out of the anesthesia and their pain level is assessed, a nurse will come get you so you can join your child in the second phase of PACU. During your time in Phase Two, your child will be given snacks and something to drink. It is important for your child’s recovery that they remain hydrated. The IV will be left in place until the child is able to drink without experiencing vomiting or nausea.
We will also go over the discharge instructions with you. You will be given any work /school excuses needed or prescriptions at this time. The packet you receive to take home will provide you with contact information for us and your surgeon, as well as the last time your child had pain medication and any restrictions on activities they may face.