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Preoperative Instructions

We understand you may have questions and concerns about your child’s upcoming anesthetic.
The information below is designed to help you prepare and know what to expect on the day of your child's procedure.
Rest assured, a fellowship-trained pediatric anesthesiologist will speak with you before your child’s procedure to personally address all of your questions and confirm the anesthesia plan.

Doctor consulting a young girl in a medical clinic.

Guidelines for Young Patients

Before You Arrive

Does my child need a physical or any special tests?

Your child will need a history and physical (H&P) completed by their primary care team within 30 days of their procedure. As part of this physical exam, some blood tests and imaging studies may be necessary. Your doctor’s clinic will either send this directly to the facility or give you a copy to bring with you.

When should my child stop eating and drinking?

Carefully follow the directions provided by the facility where your child is having their procedure. In general, your child should not eat food for eight hours prior to their arrival time at the facility. Your child may drink water up to two hours prior to their scheduled procedure. If you have any questions about when your child should stop eating and drinking, please contact the facility where your child is having their procedure or their surgeon's office.

What if my child has nail polish or body piercings?

Can my child brush their teeth the morning of surgery?

What if my adolescent vapes or smokes?

What medications should my child take before surgery?

Details about your child’s medications will be discussed with you during your child's H&P and pre-operative telephone call from our pre-operative nurses. It may be important to hold or continue your child’s medications based on their medical history and the scheduled procedure. In general, medications to control asthma and seizures should be taken the day of surgery. Your child should stop taking vitamins and supplements for one week prior to surgery, and stop NSAIDS (ibuprofen) for two days prior to surgery. Tylenol is safe to take prior to your child’s surgery.

What if my child doesn’t feel well or there are new symptoms that have developed since they saw my primary care team or surgeon?

Before Your Procedure

Who is a pediatric anesthesiologist?

Will I get a chance to speak with an anesthesiologist before my child's procedure?

What type of anesthetic will my child have?

What if I don't want the type of anesthesia that is recommended for my child?

Who else will my child meet on the day of surgery?

During Your Procedure

What will my child see and experience when they go into the Operating Room?

Even though many patients receive medication to help them relax in the pre-operative area, entering the operating room can be an anxious experience for some patients. Rest assured that your child will be treated respectfully and watched carefully by our anesthesiologists and CRNAs during their entire procedure.

In some instances, you may accompany your child into the operating room until they fall asleep. Below are some additional notes to answer your questions about the operating room environment:

You will notice that the room temperature is quite cool. The OR nurses will provide your child with some warm blankets.
There are many different pieces of equipment in the operating room, including specialized overhead lights, the anesthesia machine, monitors, several carts that are used to store medications and supplies, and other equipment needed for your child's specific type of procedure. If you are curious about the function or purpose of any item, just ask!
There are usually at least 5-7 people present during an operation. This includes the scrub nurse/tech, surgeon, CRNA, circulating nurse, and anesthesiologist. Others are present as needed to assist with your child's procedure or to provide special monitoring during your child's procedure.
The operating room table is narrow, so much care will be taken to transfer your child safely and to fasten straps similar to seat belts to prevent your child from falling.
Special care will be taken to pad and secure your child's arms, legs, and head so skin/nerve injury does not occur. Your anesthesiologist and CRNA are experts at keeping your child safe!

After Your Procedure

Will I see an anesthesiologist?

How long will my child be in the recovery room?

Why is my child’s throat sore?

What are common side effects of anesthesia?

Anesthesia is safe in otherwise healthy pediatric patients. However, common side effects include nausea and vomiting, uncontrolled pain, and emergence delirium. Emergence delirium may be seen in younger pediatric patients who are confused and agitated while waking up after surgery. Your pediatric anesthesiologist will be immediately available after your child's procedure to manage and treat any issues that may arise.

How long will the effects of anesthesia last?

Modern anesthesia medications are generally short-acting. While some patients may feel drowsy for the rest of the day, most effects wear off within about six hours after the procedure. This can vary depending on the anesthetic used, the length of the procedure, and the individual patient. Anesthesia can slow reflexes, affect thinking, and cause temporary memory loss. Your adolescent should not drive, operate heavy machinery, or make important decisions until the anesthesia effects have completely worn off, which may take 24 to 48 hours. These restrictions may last longer if they are taking opioid (narcotic) pain medications. Please discuss your child’s return to normal activities with your surgeon.

Recovery at Home

Will the anesthesia medications effect or interfere with other medications that my child takes?

You should make sure your child's medications are reviewed with your surgeon's team, as they may have a surgical reason to alter your schedule or prescribe pain medications that could interact with your child's daily medications. Additionally, hormonal birth control may not be as effective after some medications given during your adolescent's procedure. When discussing hormonal birth control for your adolescent, please review if they need to use non-hormonal contraceptives for seven days after the procedure.

What should I do if pain meds aren't managing my child’s pain?

What if I have more questions about my child's anesthetic?

Helpful Links

If you want more information about anesthesia, please visit the links below. However, please contact us if you have a specific question or concern.

Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation Patient Education

From the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

From the National Patient Safety Foundation

Children's Minnesota Pediatric Anesthesiology

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Doctor tending to a child patient in a hospital bed.

Anesthesia Techniques Overview

General Anesthesia

During a general anesthetic, your child will be completely asleep and unaware of their surroundings. Depending on your patient’s age and medical condition, they will go to sleep by breathing anesthesia gasses through a mask or after placing an IV. This is required with most general anesthetics and is expertly managed by the anesthesia care team.

Please alert your child’s anesthesia team if they have a history of a “difficult airway.” Please tell your anesthesia team about any loose or damaged teeth or other dental issues.

Your child’s heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, oxygen levels, temperature, and breathing are all carefully monitored during the general anesthetic. Medications to keep your child comfortably asleep and manage pain are given throughout the procedure. The anesthesiologist and CRNA take every precaution to ensure your child’s safety.

After your child's procedure is over, your child will gradually become more alert and aware of their environment. The anesthesiologist and CRNA will explain what is happening and care for your child as they wake up.

Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC)

Regional Anesthesia

Regional anesthesia refers to an anesthetic in which a specific part of your child's body is numbed for their procedure. Your anesthesiologist and surgeon will decide whether a regional anesthesia technique would be appropriate for your child based on the type of surgery and patient factors. This is performed after your child is under anesthesia. Regional anesthesia reduces the risk of nausea and vomiting after your child's procedure, and it significantly reduces the medication needed for their procedure. There are three types of regional anesthesia. Regional anesthesia techniques include peripheral nerve blocks, epidurals, and spinal anesthesia.