There are many operations and procedures that a child may need that can be completed in a day so that your child can go home in the evening. Your child will recover much better in the familiar surroundings and comfort of their own home.
Getting Ready At Home
Before anesthesia, eating and drinking are not allowed for specific periods of time. It’s important that you follow these directions carefully for safety reasons. If your child eats or drinks after the indicated time, the surgery may get cancelled or delayed.
| Patient can have until | Type of food and drink |
|---|---|
| 6 hours prior to surgery/procedure | Any food, including gum, hard candy, orange juice (pulp) |
| 4 hours prior to surgery/procedure | Infant formula, milk, non-clear juices |
| 3 hours prior to surgery/procedure | Breast milk (including fortified) |
| 1 hour prior to surgery/procedure | CLEAR LIQUIDS ONLY (fluids you can see through including water, Pedialyte, Gatorade, apple juice, hot black tea, black coffee) |
Prescribed medications should be given two hours prior to surgery/procedure with a clear liquid. Aspirin or Aspirin products should not be given up to one week before surgery. Acetaminophen (for example Tylenol®, Panadol®) may be given.
Please notify the surgeon if your child:
- becomes ill before the scheduled surgery
- has been in contact with any communicable disease (measles, mumps, chickenpox, pneumonia, etc.) within three weeks before the surgery is scheduled
- has a cold
Day Surgery Checklist
Be prepared to bring and/or do :
- Stay with your child until discharge (a parent or legal guardian must accompany the child)
- Child's Nova Scotia Health Care card (or appropriate provincial health card) and IWK card if you have one
- Appointment letter
- Name and telephone number of your referring physician and/or family physician
- Insurance information
- A list of questions you and/or your child may have for the physician. Also, remember to ask for any instructions from the doctor or letters of medical necessity that you may need for school or your child's family physicians/pediatrician.
- Arrange for a ride or make plans to take a taxi home after your child's surgery. Some people find it useful to have another adult with them to care for a sleeping child in the car, public transportation with a sleepy child is difficult
- A container in the event your child is sick on the way home
- Make arrangements for other children at home
- Child's favourite toy or item (blanket, stuffed toy, ball cap, etc.)
- Loose clothing to wear home (especially if your child is having hernia repair, circumcision, undescended testicle or arthroscopy)
- Snacks, diapers, change of baby clothes or other necessities. Please do not bring food if your child must fast prior their appointment.
- A list of all medications that your child has taken in the past week (including non-prescription drugs such as Tylenol® and cough medicine)
- Be prepared to give prescription medications that need to be taken on the day of surgery as scheduled (with a sip of water, no more than two tablespoons)
- Give aerosol masks, inhalers, and/or puffers as necessary. Bring them on the day of the operation
- Remove all jewelry, make up and nail polish
- Long hair should be braided or tied back with a small, plain, non-metallic hair elastic
- Be at the IWK one hour and forty-five minutes (1hour 45 mins) before your child's operation time
Child Life Services
Health care experiences can be stressful for children and youth. These experiences may cause fear, confusion, and changes in behaviour. Children and youth need to know what is happening to them. With the help of child life staff, children and youth can master these feelings and learn to cope with their hospitalization and health care experiences through play, education, and support.
How Child Life Helps
- Therapeutic play: ways to express feelings and concerns
- Play and activities in the activity areas and at the bedside
- Support childrens’ development
- Psychosocial support for brothers and sisters
- Age-appropriate explanations of hospital experiences
- Preparation for stressful events at the hospital
- Support during and after stressful events such as medical procedures
- Psychosocial support and education for parents
- Advocacy for the psychosocial needs of the child/youth and family