Children and surgery
Operating on a child means caring for a family. These points from Dr. Elalfy's guides are for parents.
Key points from the guides
A parent or legal guardian gives legal consent for the operation.
From the guide: Your Child's Operation: A Guide for ParentsChildren's fasting rules are shorter than adults' and should not simply be copied across. Long fasting causes distress, dehydration, and low blood sugar in children. European pediatric guidance allows the following for healthy children — always follow the exact times your own team gives you:
From the guide: Your Child's Operation: A Guide for ParentsChildren often wake from anesthesia confused, tearful, or agitated for a short time. This usually settles within 20 to 30 minutes with a calm, familiar adult present. Offer small, frequent sips of a favorite drink, and encourage a return to normal activity, play, and school as your child's procedure advice recommends. Some children have disturbed sleep, clinginess, or new fears for some weeks afterward, especially if they were very anxious beforehand; this usually settles.
From the guide: Your Child's Operation: A Guide for Parents
Guides to read next
- Your Child's Operation: A Guide for Parents
- Pediatric Inguinal Hernia Repair
- Plastibell Circumcision
- Preparing for Surgery: Fasting, Medicines and the Days Before
Go to the emergency room immediately, then call your surgeon, if you have severe pain, difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, fever, or any warning sign in your guide.
This page gives general information and does not replace the advice of your treating team. Your own team's instructions always come first.