GENERAL INTRODUCTION PEDIATRICS
The staff at Summit Surgical Center, LLC understand that the thought of surgery for a child and their parents is a new and challenging experience. We have created this web page to help provide information and answer potential questions in order to make this experience a positive one.
Click here to visit the Virtua Health "For Kids" website.
YOUR ROLE AS A PARENT OR CAREGIVER
We suggest that you arrange to bring a support person on the day of the procedure. This allows one person to drive and the other to comfort and assist the child during the car ride home.
If you have other children please make child care arrangements for them. In the interest of patient safety, privacy, and confidentiality, children other than the pediatric patient are not permitted in the recovery area. If this is not possible, please leave the child in the waiting room with your support person while you are in the recovery room.
We understand that there are many family members and friends that care about your child. However, only two adult visitors at a time are permitted in the recovery area. Your child should be surrounded by the people that will make them feel most secure and comfortable for the short time they will be there.
We encourage family involvement and collaboration to ensure a true family centered team effort with a positive outcome for all.
TIPS FOR DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS
Age Group
Infant:
Birth to 1 year
Fears
- Separation from parent/caregiver
- Stranger anxiety
Intervention
- Parent/caregiver to be involved in procedures
- Keep parent/caregiver in infant's line of vision
- Limit the number of strangers caring for the infant
- Bring familiar objects for the infant
- Hold and reassure the infant
Age Group
Toddler:
1-3 years
Fears
- Separation from parent/caregiver
- Strangers, machines, darkness, abandonment
- Fantasizes about inanimate objects
- May perceive procedure as form of punishment
Intervention
- Follow all interventions above and:
- Give one direction at a time
- Use firm, direct approach
- Use distraction techniques
- Prepare child shortly before procedure emphasizing those aspects that require the child's cooperation
Age Group
Preschool:
3-6 years
Fears
- Separation from parent/caregiver
- Injury, being left alone, loss of control
- May perceive procedure as form of punishment or guilt for something done or said
Intervention
- Use simple concrete explanations -- verbal, visual, play therapy
- Explain procedures, unfamiliar objects
- Demonstrate use of equipment
- Encourage child to verbalize
- Use doll/puppets for explanation
- Involve the child whenever possible
- Focus on one thing at a time
- Praise for good behavior
- Tell child the truth about expectations
- Reassure child that you will be there as much as possible
- Encourage child to express fears and ask questions
- Read books together
Age Group
School Age:
6-12 years
Fears
- Loss of control, pain, death
Intervention
- Give choices whenever possible
- Explain things in advance using correct terminology
- Explain equipment
- Allow child to have some control
- Provide privacy
- Encourage child to ask questions
- Tell them what will happen a few days before procedure
- Read books together
Age Group
Teenagers:
12-18 years
Fears
- Change in body and appearance
- Peer rejection, disability, loss of body part, loss of control, death
Intervention
- Encourage questions, provide explanations
- Provide privacy
- Involve in planning and decision making
- Allow to maintain control and independence
- Do not talk about them in front of them, rather speak directly to the teenager
- Include them in decision making
PRE-OPERATIVE PEDIATRIC TOURS
. Parents have the opportunity to meet with an anesthesiologist and have their questions answered. The tours generally take 15 - 20 minutes and are free.
A Summit Surgical registered nurse will conduct the tour gearing the presentation to your child's age and personality. You and your child will be able to meet some of the staff, tour the facility, and ask any questions that you might have. The nurse will review any instructions given prior to the procedure, describe what will happen the day of the procedure, visit the admission and "wake up" rooms, and review any discharge instructions. Your child can also "play" with the OR hats or get "hooked up" to the monitoring devices if they desire.
We encourage you to take advantage of this service offered by our knowledgeable and caring nursing staff. Special arrangements can be made for those families that are not available to take the tour during their regular hours.
PRE-ADMISSION INSTRUCTION
A Summit Surgical registered nurse will call you prior to your child's procedure to collect medical and surgical history information and provide you with specific instructions to be followed regarding your child's procedure. The nurse will also be glad to answer any questions that you may have. A Virtua Health anesthesiologist will review the information collected by the registered nurse prior to the procedure and will be familiar with any special needs your child may have prior to your arrival.
DAY BEFORE SURGERY
You will receive a call from the Surgery Center between 1 PM and 3 PM the day before the procedure to confirm the time of your child's procedure (Monday cases will be called on Friday).
It is vitally important that you follow the directions given by your doctor and the Surgery Center nurse regarding food and fluid restriction for your child.
DAY OF SURGERY
After registering at the front desk you and your child will be escorted to a private or semi-private Pre-op room that contains a monitor and small television. A registered nurse will weigh your child, take "vital signs" (temperature, breathing, etc), place an identification bracelet on their wrist or ankle, and verify admission information. As the parent or guardian, you will also be given a matching identification bracelet. Depending on the child and the procedure involved your child may remain in their pajamas or they may be asked to change into a provided gown and slippers. The majority of children will have an IV placed after they are "asleep" in the operating room. If your child will "wake up" with an IV in the recovery room, the nurse will describe it to your child ahead of time.
Your child may be given medication to relax them before they are taken back to the operating room. You will be asked to remain with your child at all times because they may become sleepy. When it is time for your child to go to the operating room, they will be escorted by one of the operating room nurses. You will then be asked to remain in the waiting area where you will be updated by our staff and/or your child's physician.
When your child goes to the recovery room they will be greeted by recovery room nurses and placed on monitors to check their heart, breathing and temperature. While waking up they may have a small mask by their face giving them moistened oxygen. They may have IV fluids infusing which will be removed as soon as possible.
Each child will "wake up" differently and it is possible that you may observe quiet sleeping, crying, or confusion. Some children will behave in ways that parents have not experienced in the past and this is a normal reaction to anesthesia. If your child is sleeping please try not to disturb them as it is best for them to wake up on their own. If your child is upset please reassure them as you would at home and know that our nursing staff is there to help you in any way they can. The recovery room nurses will give your child pain medication should they need it.
When you get home, follow all the instructions that you were given for your child and make sure that they rest and "take it easy". If you have any questions, you will be given telephone contact numbers to call.
You will receive a post-operative follow-up phone call from a Summit Surgical nurse the first business day after the procedure.