WHAT TO EXPECT WITH THE ANAESTHETIC
Pre-medicating children prior to surgery is rarely required. Occasionally, because of circumstances such as autism, or high anxiety, this may be appropriate. If you think your child might benefit from pre-medication based on past experience, make sure you talk to the anaesthetist prior to the day of surgery.
Gas or intravenous anaesthesia
Younger children will usually have a “gas induction”. An anaesthetic gas agent such as Sevofluorane will be used via a mask gently held near your child’s face. As they breathe the anaesthetic, they drift off to sleep. They often go through a wriggly phase, which can look unusual, but is a normal phase of going to sleep, just more noticeable with an anaesthetic. It is unusual to use muscle relaxants and mechanical ventilation in children – they are kept in a plane of anaesthesia where they are unaware, but still breathing for themselves.
Older children will typically have anaesthetic cream applied to their hands and arms, to allow placement of a drip cannula with minimal discomfort. Anaesthesia can then be induced with intravenous medications, quickly and safely.
Anaesthesia for children is very safe, and life threatening complications very rare. You anaesthetist will discuss the appropriate method and potential complications associated with anaesthesia, in most cases on the day of surgery.
The recovery room is designed to support patients until they are safely over the effects of the anaesthetic, and to ensure pain relief is adequate prior to return to the ward. There is a high ratio of nursing staff to patients at all times. As soon as your child is awake, they are returned to the ward. In general, parents are not allowed in the recovery area, in view of other patient’s privacy and to minimise disruption to the high level care that is required. Occasionally exceptions will be made, if the child requires additional comfort during this period.
It is a good idea to bring a favourite toy, and this can be left on their bed in the operating room, so they have something familiar when they wake up.