When you arrive for the procedure, a nurse will ask when was your, or your child’s last meal, review the medical history, and explain what to expect.  After all your questions are answered, you will be asked to sign the anesthesia consent.  For adults, a peripheral IV will then be placed for sedation administration in the procedure/operative suite.

For children, your child will be distracted with toys and/or video games while flavored sleepy air or a twilight medication injection are administered. After asleep, an IV will be placed for continuous administration of anesthesia medications until the procedure is completed. We recommend you do not tell your child about the IV, in our experience this only increases their anxiety and may make them more resistant. We like to make it a fun experience for your child to make future visits go smoothly.  For children, you will not be able to come in the room while your child is being sedated. This is solely for your child’s safety. Our doctors will be accompanied with a medical team who will be caring for your child.

At the end of the medical or dental treatment, the inhaled or IV medicine is turned off, and the IV and monitors are removed as you awaken.  For children, parents can be with their child as they awaken.

Our recovery nurse will monitor your progress and review the discharge instructions with you. It usually takes about 30 to 60 minutes before you or your child will be ready to travel home.

Children may be sleepy and dizzy for 3 to 4 hours. Children can drink and eat soft foods soon after the procedure. Nausea and vomiting are rare.  A common post-operative complication is a nosebleed. A breathing tube may be placed through the nose and into the lungs for surgery, and the insertion of this tube may cause a small nosebleed. This will go away soon after surgery. If your child gets a nosebleed, treat it by pinching the nose for 10 minutes.  Some children develop a croup-like barking cough post-operatively if a breathing tube was placed. If this occurs, run a hot steamy shower and let your child inhale this air; or take your child for a walk in the cooler night air. If at any time you become concerned that this cough is getting worse, please go to your local emergency room.

Expect a follow up call the next day about the anesthesia care.