Pre-procedure Instructions for Patients and Families

  1. It is very important that you arrive on time to avoid cancellation of your child’s procedure. It is our top priority to provide a safe and positive experience for your child. In order to achieve this together, your child’s nurse, anesthesiologist, and surgeon need to have time to meet with you and your child before the procedure. The team must complete their assessments and documentation before your child can go in for the procedure. If you arrive late, there is a chance that your child’s procedure will be delayed or cancelled.
  2. Your child will need your undivided attention after the procedure. Please do not bring other children to the hospital on the day of the procedure. Only parents are allowed in the recovery area. Other visitors and children are not allowed.
  3. If your child is under legal guardianship, the legal guardian must accompany the child and must bring the court papers giving that guardianship. If the legal guardian is unable to accompany the child, please contact your surgeon to make other arrangements.
  4. Chicken pox, measles, mumps, and other contagious diseases may be dangerous to patients. If you or your child have had contact with any contagious diseases within three weeks prior to your procedure, notify your surgeon anytime or the Pediatric Anesthesia Resource Center (PARC) Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at (650) 736-7359.
  5. If your child develops a fever, rash, cough, diarrhea, sore throat, skin lesions, or pink eye within 72 hours of the scheduled procedure, call your surgeon or the Pediatric Anesthesia Resource Center (PARC) Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at (650) 736-7359. Call the Operating Room Control Desk from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 a.m. at (650) 721-2820 and on weekends.
  6. Please be aware that your child may NOT travel home by bus or train after anesthesia. For safety reasons, your child must go home by car or taxi. Please call (650) 497-8303 if transportation is a problem for you.

A short time prior to your child’s scheduled procedure, the Pediatric Anesthesia Resource Center (PARC) will contact you. At this time, you will be given specific instructions regarding eating and drinking prior to the procedure. For your child’s safety, it is very important that you follow these instructions. In general, you child will not be allowed to eat any solid foods after midnight. He/She will be allowed to drink clear liquids which will need to be stopped based on the scheduled procedure time. 

You will meet with your child’s anesthesiologist the day of the procedure to discuss the plan of care for your child. Please be aware that it may be necessary for your child to stay in the hospital overnight even if he/she was originally scheduled to go home the day of the procedure. This may be due to various medical reasons including excessive vomiting or the need for intravenous pain medication. If there is a need for your child to stay overnight, your surgeon will explain the reason and approximate length of stay required.