Frequently Asked Questions:

What can we expect at the History and Physical appointment with the Physician's Assistant/Nurse Practitioner?
This is usually a quick fifteen-minute appointment with one of our PA/NP's in our office seven days prior to surgery. This visit is to make sure that you child’s lungs are clear and they are healthy enough to go through surgery. The PA/NP will answer any questions that you have about the day of surgery and the post operative instructions. They also will write any prescriptions that your child may need after the surgery so you can get these filled ahead of time so the night after surgery can be spent taking care of your child rather than waiting in line at the pharmacy.

Where do we go the day of surgery? Where do we park?
The day of surgery you will pull in the main entrance of Spectrum Health Butterworth Campus and bear to your right. You will come to two ticket booths. Tell each of them you are here for your child’s outpatient surgery and they will lift both gates for you to enter and park in the outpatient parking ramp. You will enter into the building under the blue awning. Take the elevators to the second floor and turn left off of the elevator. Check in with the nurse sitting at the desk there. There is an area that the children can play while waiting for their surgery time. If you are interested, the hospital does do tours of the surgery areas. Call them at 616.391.3499 for more information.

Why do we need to be there 2 hours early?
This is a time for the pediatric nurses to get your child ready for surgery. They will need to finish the registration process, make sure that the parents sign the operation permit, and all the other paperwork is in order. The nurse will also be able to give you a order to events that will occur that day. You will also meet the anesthesiologist at that time. If you have any questions for him/her save it for that time.

I lost my eating guidelines. What are they for my child?
PLEASE CALL 616.391.7787 with any questions (this is the hospital pre-procedure line)

INFANTS less than one (1) year of age:

• No solid food eight (8) hours before surgery.
• Stop feeding formula and breast milk six (6) hours prior to surgery.
• Clear liquids are allowed until four (4) hours before surgery.
• TOTAL FASTING the last four (4) hours before surgery.

CHILDREN 1 to 4 years old:

• No solid food after midnight - they may drink clear liquids (such as water)
• Stop ALL liquids four (4) hours before surgery.

CHILDREN 4 and older and adults:

• Stop all solid foods after midnight - clear liquids such as water are okay.
• Stop ALL liquids six (6) hours before surgery.

PATIENTS WITH HISTORY OF OBESITY, DIABETES, HIATAL HERNIA OR STOMACH REFLUX:

• Do no each or drink after midnight, except clear liquids are allowed until six (6) hours before surgery.

YOU MAY DRINK THESE CLEAR LIQUIDS:

• Water
• Plain tea
• Pedialyte
• Jello water
• Apple juice
• Cranberry juice

DO NOT DRINK:

• Milk
• Carbonated beverages
• Coffee
• Tea with cream
• Alcohol

NO GUM CHEWING OR CANDY IS ALLOWED.

What can my child have to eat after surgery?
Your doctor will advise that your child eat light the evening after surgery. It may be helpful to start out with clear liquids and then advance to a BRAT type diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast {or a bland diet}). Just recovering from the anesthesia can make your child’s stomach upset. It is best to gradually introduce food. If your child does well that night with a bland diet then they may start eating a regular diet the next day.

What can I expect the night after surgery?

• Your child will normally be tired and not completely themselves right after surgery. Some children respond to some types of anesthesia by being irritable. This is a normal side effect, but if your child is inconsolable then contact your doctor.


• It is common that your child get a fever (between 99-101°F) the night after or the next day. This does not always mean infection. Infections do not normally set in until 3-10 days after surgery. Often fevers immediately following surgery can be from respiratory viruses or sometimes ear infections. If your child has a fever contact your doctor’s office and they will determine the next steps for you.


• Parents will occasionally say that their child has a bad cough and sounds like they are wheezing. During the general anesthesia process a breathing tube is inserted to allow your child to breath more effectively. Sometimes that irritation on their throat can cause a "croup" like cough. The cough usually subsides in about 48 hours, but if your child is having a hard time breathing contact the child's pediatrician or primary care doctor or take them to the emergency room. They will be able to listen to your child and determine if a breathing treatment may be needed to help your child breath easier.


• We do have some children that have a reaction to the tape that the surgeon uses in the operating room. The parent will often call with a complaint that their child's eyes are swollen and red. While your child is sleeping the operating room nurse may put a small piece of tape on your child's eyelid to avoid having the eyes dry out during surgery. Your child may have a small reaction to this but it should reduce after a few days. A warm washcloth may be helpful to soothe this area.


• We have had a few children react to the wound glue that is used in groin surgeries. They complain of blistering around the incision site. If this happens to your child, contact your doctor’s office.

How is my child going to be put to sleep?
When we schedule our surgeries, we always request pediatric anesthesiologists. We feel that they are specially trained to provide exceptional care to children and are focused on the differences between children and adults. When the nurses take your child back to the operating room, your child is positioned on the table. We use general anesthesia for all of our surgeries, so your child is fully asleep. Your child will be asked what "flavored air" they would like to be put to sleep with. They can choose a flavor that they like. Then a mask is place over your child’s mouth and nose for them to breathe in the anesthetic.

My child is afraid of needles.
The trained pediatric nurses and assistants will try to make this experience for your child the least painful possible. There is a cream called EMLA that can be put on your child's skin. It is like lotion with lidocaine in it to numb your child’s skin where the IV is going to be placed. Most of the time, the IV can be started in the operating room after your child is already sleeping.

Can I go in where my child is put to sleep?
It is possible to go with your child into the operating room while they go to sleep, but this option is at the discretion of the anesthesiologist. This is used only to ease the separation anxiety for children and is not an invitation for the parents to stay for the surgery. We have to caution you. Some children fight the anesthesia and it can be a very difficult thing to witness because it is your child. We often suggest that you let the trained pediatric nurses and anesthesiologists take care of your child in the operating room and then after recovery you are reunited with them again.

How long do we have to stay after the surgery?
It is always a good idea to pack an overnight bag in case that your child has complications from the surgery or anesthesia, so you will be prepared to stay the night in the hospital.
After the surgery your child is taken into the recovery room or "wake up room". Depending on how your child responds to the anesthesia will determine how long it takes them to wake up from it. After the surgery, your doctor will usually come and talk with you and then you are allowed to come and see your child in the recovery room. We need to make sure that all of your child's vitals (blood pressure, temperature, respirations, heart rate) are stable for you to make the trip home. You will be given instructions for how to care for your child at home (if you did not receive it already at your history and physical appointment). It may be best if both parents are able to come; one to tend to the child's needs and one to drive.
If you know that your child will be staying overnight, it will be up to your doctor's discretion for how long that stay is.