PRE OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS

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Your surgeon will give you a pre-op history and examination form for you and your family doctor to complete. The completed form and any test results should be faxed to your surgeon's office.

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Blood work will be performed at your surgeon's or family doctor's discretion.

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Bring the original pre-op history and examination form with you to Alberta Surgical Centre on the day of your operation.

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You will need to confirm your child's appointment with your dentist.

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THE DAY BEFORE THE OPERATION:

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FOOD AND DRINK:

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YOUR CHILD MUST NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO EAT OR DRINK AFTER MIDNIGHT ON THE NIGHT BEFORE SURGERY. THIS INCLUDES GUM, CANDIES OR BREATH MINTS.

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If your child's surgery is scheduled in the afternoon, further instructions will be given to you.

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THE DAY OF THE OPERATION:

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you will be asked to arrive at Alberta Surgical Centre approximately 15 minutes to several hours prior to surgery time. You may be at the surgical centre for about 2-4 hours. Please arrange to have your other children cared for at home. It is highly recommended that two people accompany your child: one to attend to the child, and one to drive.

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Please bring your child's favorite cuddly toy or blanket. A familiar object may help make your child feel more comfortable in an unfamiliar place.

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BATHING AND COSMETICS:

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Your child should have a bath or shower (including hair wash) the night before or morning of surgery.

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Your child should not wear make-up, fingernail or toenail polish or contact lenses on the day of surgery. Your child should not wear jewelry, including earrings, rings, and body jewelry such as tongue or belly button rings. If your child has long hair, please put it back in a ponytail or braid. Please avoid hairpins and barrettes. Soft hair accessories such as cloth hair bands are acceptable.

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CLOTHING:

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Clothing should be loose and comfortable. Sweat pants and tops are preferable. Please do not have your child wear their best clothing as it may be stained or get wet. Avoid white clothing.

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MEDICATIONS:

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If your child takes any prescription medications, they should taken with small sips of water on the day of surgery.

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OPERATING AND RECOVERY ROOMS:

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These rooms are restricted areas. A parent will be allowed to enter the operating room with the child while the anesthetic is being started and the child falls asleep. The parent must leave the operating room when told to by the anesthetist or nurse.

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An intravenous is started to give fluid and medications. A tube is put in the airway to keep your child's breathing passage open and give anesthetic gases and oxygen that will keep your child sleeping through the procedure.

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When the procedure is finished, your child will be taken to a recovery area. A nurse or dentist will call parents to the recovery room.

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AFTER THE OPERATION:

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Children often wake from anesthetic crying and struggling. This is normal and not due to pain. This is related to disorientation your child may experience. This passes in about 30mins. The medications given for anesthetic have an amnesic effect so your child may not remember everything that happens around the time of the procedure.

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you MAY NOT use public transit home (the bus). Out of town patients are encouraged to stay in Edmonton overnight.

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ACTIVITY AS TOLERATED

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your child must rest quietly at home for the remainder of the day, in the company of a responsible adult.

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Plan quiet activities for the remainder of the day (no skipping, bike riding, sports, etc.) Resume normal activities such as school or daycare tomorrow.

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Do not leave your child unattended at any time on the day of the procedure.

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Your child may have some nausea, drowsiness, sore throat and fever symptoms like those associated with stomach flu. This should pass in a short time. if needed, Tylenol (acetaminophen) may be used in the recommended dosage for the child's age.

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DIET AS TOLERATED

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A clear liquid diet (7-up, ginger ale, kool-Aid, apple juice, clear broth, Jell-O, Popsicles, etc.) for the rest of the surgery day should help your child recover from any possible nausea. Please do not give your child orange juice, tomato juice, fruit nectars, milk or other dairy products, or any other solid foods.

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Introduce soft foods 3-4 hours after surgery and then return to normal eating patterns when your child requests it. Avoid excessive salt, spices, etc.

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OTHER

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Your child may require pain medication on the day of surgery and the day after. Use Tylenol, Tempra or Advil for discomfort.

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If necessary Gravol can be given for nausea.

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A bruise or discomfort is normal on either the hand, upper arm or thigh area from the intravenous and intramuscular injection given for pain control during surgery.

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Your child's eyelids, lips and cheeks might be puffy after surgery. This will disappear in about 24 hours. 

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You may see little red dots on the eyelids, nose and cheeks after surgery. This is caused by removal of tape from sensitive skin. This tape is placed over these areas during surgery. This will go away in 7-10 days. 

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If teeth were removed, some bleeding may persist for the first day. A piece of gauze placed on the bleeding site and held for 30 minutes should stop any persistent bleeding.

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A nosebleed may occur if your child blows his/her nose within the next week.

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DENTAL HYGIENE

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On the evening of the dental procedure, brush your child's teeth as instructed. Then gently brush 2-3 times daily after that. 

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If crowns were placed, avoid sticky foods or gummy foods such as caramels. NO CANDY. If a crown does come off, save the crown and call your dentist's office to arrange an appointment.

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Please notify Alberta Surgical Centre of any post-surgical infections or unexpected admission to a hospital within 10 days of treatment at the facility. 

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IN ORDER FOR US TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SAFE, PROMPT AND QUALITY CARE, PLEASE FOLLOW ALL PRE-OPERATIVE AND POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR CHILD'S SURGERY OR ANESTHETIC, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ALBERTA SURGICAL CENTRE AT 780-488-2724 AND ONE OF OUR NURSES WILL BE PLEASED TO HELP YOU.

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SURGERY MAY BE CANCELLED IF YOU DO NOT FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS