Your child is scheduled to have a surgery or procedure. You will need to talk with your child’s doctor about the type of anesthesia that will be best for your child. Below are some questions you may want to ask.
Which type of anesthesia is best for my child and the procedure that my child is having?
When does my child need to stop eating or drinking before the anesthesia? What if my child is breastfeeding?
When do my child and I need to get to the hospital on the day of the surgery? Is the rest of our family allowed to be there too?
If my child is taking the following medications, what should I do?
If my child has asthma, diabetes, seizures, heart disease, or any other medical problems, do I need to do any thing special before my child has anesthesia?
Can my child take a tour of the surgery and recovery areas of the hospital before the surgery?
During the anesthesia:
After the anesthesia wears off:
If my child had spinal or epidural anesthesia, will my child have a headache afterwards
What if I have more questions after the surgery? Who can I contact?
What to ask your doctor about anesthesia - child
Updated by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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