Child Life Surgery Preparation


Welcome to UNMH

Welcome to UNM Children's Hospital where you have come to have your surgery. A surgery is when the doctors and nurses try to fix a part of your body that is not working right.

No one ever comes to the hospital because they were bad or did something wrong. A hospital is a place where people take care of you, so you can feel better and go home.

What do you mean I can't eat?

Your stomach needs to be empty during your surgery.  This means you cant eat until after your surgery.  The anesthesia medicine sometimes makes kids stomach feel sick.  Remember, you will be able to eat and drink something after your surgery.


 

 

My Favorite Things

Whether you come to the hospital for a day visit or to sleep over, you can bring Teddy or any favorite toy or game.

Some things you might want to bring if you are sleeping over are a favorite blanket, pillow, or stuffed animal.  You can pack your own cloths and pajamas too.  It also may help to bring pictures of your family and friends.


 

Where do I go?

This is the Day surgery/Pre-Anesthesia Unit.  This is the unit in which you will complete your paperwork today as well as the place where you will check in the day of your surgery.  Once you are checked in you may have time to play a game or play with the toys in the waiting area until the nurse call you back into a room.


 

 

What do I Wear?

On the day of your surgery the doctors and nurses will be dressed in special cloths to keep, themselves, you and the operating room very clean.  They wear gowns, hats, gloves, slippers, and a mask that covers their mouth and nose.

Here is a test for you.  Can you tell whether or not your doctor or nurse is smiling?

Once you have been taken back into a pre-op room you will be given hospital PJS to change into and an arm band to let everyone know who you are.  Make sure to take off all jewelry and nail polish before your surgery.  The nurse will then come in and take your temperature, and blood pressure to make sure that you are okay to go to surgery.


 "I feel good"

While you are in the pre-op room, you might meet with a special kind of doctor called and Anesthesiologist and a Nurse.  They will ask questions like:  How much do you weigh?  Did you eat this morning?  Are you allergic to any medications?  If you have any more questions for the anesthesiologist now is a good time to ask.

While you are talking to the doctors and nurse, they may give you a little bit a medicine to drink before your surgery.  You can either squirt it into your mouth or drink it from a cup.  It's best to try to drink it all at once.  It is usually orange and will make you feel silly, sleep or dizzy.  It's ok if you feel like this.  This medicine can also help you to feel less scared or nervous.  After taking this medicine, some kids don't remember being in the pre-op room or going back to the operating room.


On the move

When it is time for you to go back to the surgery room there are several ways that you can get there:

  • You can walk back if you are not dizzy
  • You may be pushed in the hospital bed
  • You may go in a wagon

It is normal to feel nervous at this point.  Do you remember who your doctor is?


In the OR

This is the surgery room where you will have your surgery.  It has machines that make noise and big bright lights that help the doctors and nurses to see you really well during your surgery.  You might see lots of special tools in here.  Some might be scary looking, but remember that not all of them will be used for your surgery.

When you get to the surgery room the doctors, nurses and anesthesiologists will do a couple of things to prepare you for your surgery.

  • They will put stickers on your chest called electrodes.  These stickers will help to monitor your heart during the surgery.
  • A blood pressure cuff will also be placed of your arm to monitor your blood pressure during your surgery.
  • A band-aid with a red light will placed on your finger to check your oxygen levels during your surgery.

Dont worry this does not hurt!

Next, your anesthesiologist will give you your anesthesia or sleep medicine.


What is An-es-the-sia?

The first way you can get anesthesia or sleepy medicine is through a mask.  You breathe anesthesia medicine through this mask that will make you sleep and help you to not feel anything during the surgery.  You will only be awake with the mask on your face for a little while before you fall asleep.

Some kids say it takes less than 20 seconds, about 4 deep breaths to fall asleep.  It's a different kind of sleep than you sleep in your bed at night.  If you hear loud noise or if somebody talks to you during your surgery, you will not wake up as long as you have this special medicine in your body.

You get to choose a fun flavor to go on the inside of the mask like root beer, bubble gum, cherry or strawberry.  At first, the air you breathe through the mask will smell like the flavor you choose.  Then, it might smell a little funny.  We also have stickers if you want to decorate your mask.


I.V.

Another way the anesthesiologists can give you sleepy medicine/anesthesia is through an I.V. An I.V. is a tiny plastic straw that goes in your hand or in your arm.  Through an I.V. the doctors and nurses can give you medicines/fluids to help your body during and after your operation.

When you wake up from your operation you will have an I.V.  If anesthesia is given to you through the mask, then you will be asleep when they put it in, so it won't hurt.  The anesthesiologists will stop giving you the sleepy medicine through the mask or I.V. once the surgery is over, and you will wake up.


Coping

Here are some things to do when you have a blood test or get an I.V. to help
make it easier:

  • Sit on a special persons lap
  • Squeeze someones hand
  • Count to ten
  • Think of being somewhere special
  • Take slow, deep breaths in your nose and blow them out slowly through
    your mouth
  • Tell a story
  • Sing a silly song
  • Spell words out loud
  • Hug a teddy bear or other special friend.

Time to wake up

When your surgery is over, you will begin to wake up slowly and your family will be able to be with you in the Recovery room.  You may be sore where you had your operation.  However, like any other hurts you have had, it will get better everyday, and you may be given medicine to help make you feel better.

You might wake up crying, or you might be mad, sleepy, or confused.  It's ok.  You will have an IV and the special band-aid still on your finger. You may also have a blue tube blowing cool fresh air in your face to help you breathe better.



Feeling better

It is important to take the medicine your doctor orders for you will begin to feel better.  Besides taking medicine, there are also many other ways to make your body feel better.  Here are a few ideas you may want to try with the help of your mom, dad, hospital caregiver or other adult in your family:

Slow and deep breaths - Take a deep breath in and slowly blow the discomfort out and away from your body.

Getting your mind off of your discomfort - Doing fun things like playing video games, reading a book, listening to music, or making a craft projects to keep yourself busy.

Imagination - Think fun and special thoughts about places you feel happiest, and pretend you are there. Use your mind and think about the things you are seeing, touching and tasting.

Touch - Have someone that you care about gently rock you, cuddle you or rub your head.


Yummmmmmmmmmm!!!

While you are in the recovery room with your mom, dad, or family member the nurse can give you a Popsicle to eat or something to drink, like juice or water.  Make sure to tell someone if your stomach hurts, if anything hurts or if you need to use the bathroom.


Questions

Before you come to the hospital for your operation, you may have many questions to ask and feelings to share with your doctors, nurses, and family.  Here are some questions and feelings that some children have talked about:

  • Will I be alone?
  • Can mommy and daddy stay with me?
  • What will I eat?
  • Can I play?
  • Will other children be there?
  • I'm scared!
  • I'm sad!
  • What will hurt?
  • How long will I be at the hospital?
  • What will I look like after my operation?

Can you think of more special questions and feelings?


Going Home

You should be very proud of yourself for being so brave in the hospital!

Remember, it is still important to listen to what the doctors and nurses tell you to do at home to make your body strong after your surgery.

After your doctor and nurse check on you one last time, you will be able to change back into your own cloths, leave the hospital PJS with your nurse, and go home with your family.

When you leave the hospital, you can ride in a wheel chair, walk or have mom/dad carry you to the car.