When your child is having surgery it feels like a big deal.
I know that as a Dad. But I’m also a pediatrician.
I’m Dr. Alan Greene and I want to talk with you about
how to prepare your child for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.
And perhaps the first thing is preparing yourself because if you’re feeling confident
and good about the surgery, everything will go much easier for you and for your child.
And that means getting your questions answered beforehand. And in particular,
the question I hear the most from parents is concern about the anesthesia.
And that comes often from anesthesia risks that happened back when we were children.
Anesthesia was much more dangerous than it is today.
The problem was there weren’t ways to monitor whether kids were getting
enough oxygen to the brain or not. But since those monitors were developed
about 20 years or so ago now, anesthesia has become
incredibly safe - in fact, often safer than driving to the hospital.
Now there other things that are important to do to prepare.
First is to remember, take notice if your doctor has ordered any
lab tests before the surgery.
Perhaps blood tests, perhaps urine tests, maybe nothing was needed.
But if it was, you want to make sure you’ve gotten it done
before you end up going to the hospital.
The second thing is instructions should’ve been given to you about
when is the last time your child could eat or drink before heading to the hospital.
Often it’ll be midnight the night before,
but whatever you were told be sure to take note of that
and really don’t cheat on this one. Nothing after what they say.
And that leads to point number 3. Whatever medications that your child is taking,
prescribed medicines, over-the-counter medicines, need to be taken into account.
So, make sure you discuss with your physician,
your anesthesiologist or the surgeon beforehand
whatever medicines your child is taking and whether they should be taken
or skipped after that deadline for food and drink.
Next thing that’s important, number 4,
is to help your child select a favorite toy or stuffed animal,
action figure to bring with them to the hospital.
This little dog here, something that’s comforting for them
to have with them along the way. And it’s a great idea before the whole thing
depending on the age and temperament of your child
to act out the whole scenario using their favorite toy.
So, for instance, this little dog is not feeling well, hasn’t been feeling well for awhile,
has to take lots of medications, but the doctors are going to be able to fix it.
Can’t eat or drink anything after midnight - every step of it you go through.
They’re a little bit scared and they find out everything is fine and it worked out great
and they get some ice cream afterwards and the problem is all gone.
But to work it through with them so they get the story,
also helps you feel more prepared.
I also suggest giving children something specific and fun to look forward to
shortly after the surgery. It might be something as simple as a trip to the movies together
or a trip to get ice cream but something that they can focus on.
Take the focus a little bit off the surgery itself. Not a bad thing for you too.
Then a couple of practical things. I do suggest that before going in you take off
any jewelry that the child has, you bathe them, you get rid of even earrings that
may stay in all the time or hair clips that may,
you don’t really want those at the hospital. And it’s good to choose comfortable clothes
when you go to the hospital, things that are easy on, easy off. It’s not a fashion show.
Although you may want some pictures of this cause it is a kind of historic moment.
And lastly, if your child does develop any kind of fever or rash or cold beforehand,
make sure to give them a call and let the folks know what’s going on
cause it may mean the surgery should be postponed.
But the good news is that this kind of minor surgery today in children is extraordinarily safe
and when it’s done for the right child at the right time really helps
move them ahead, move the family ahead.
Most parents are really glad afterwards that the surgery has been done.