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Pediatric Anesthesia
Nothing calms a child better than a confident parent. Whether your child is scheduled for a minor or major surgery, your support is of utmost importance. Your reassurance about the surgery and the anesthesia, will improve the entire experience for you and for your child.
Though a parent can not be present with their child during surgery, there is no safer place to be than under the watchful one-on-one care our physician anesthesiologists provide for every child - for every surgery. With medications, equipment and techniques geared for the pediatric population at our disposal, every TAA anesthesiologist is prepared to provide the highest quality care for every child. Our anesthesiologists are familiar with patients of all ages, and the special needs and concerns of children, their parents and their caregivers.
For those children that require specialized care, our board certified pediatric anesthesiologists who have dedicated their training exclusively to the specialized care of children, take on the most complex of pediatric surgeries.
For more information about what to expect the day of surgery, please click on the button below for PDF (which will open in a new window).
Talking to your child about anesthesia
A child at any age, will want to know where you will be during and after the surgery. Let them know that you will be nearby in the waiting area during the surgery, and will see them soon after they recover. Explain to your child in age appropriate language, that anesthesia prevents them from feeling any pain during the surgery, and from remembering anything. Depending on the child, it might also be helpful to warn them that they may feel sleepy, confused, nauseated, or just a little weird after surgery. Feeling that way is all normal and expected.
Will my child receive a “shot”?
Some older children, or children with specific needs, will require intravenous (IV) access prior to going to the operating room. We will do our best to make this process tolerable – with medications to numb the area, and/or relaxing medication for your child. If needed, this will be discussed with you in the preoperative holding area.
Preoperative Instructions
If you receive a phone call the day before surgery with instructions about when to stop eating and drinking, please follow those specific directions. The instructions are for your child's safety. These instructions are provided to prevent food from the stomach interfering with breathing during anesthesia.
Where can I learn more?
Please click here for more information about what to expect the day of surgery at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital.
Click here to download an informative PDF from Smart Tots. Smart Tots is a collaborative effort of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS), the FDA, and many others who are working to make anesthesia safer for infants and children.