Preparing For Your Child’s Surgery

Before Surgery

Pre-surgical appointment

• You may be scheduled for a pre-surgical preparation appointment within 30 days of your child’s surgery in the perioperative surgical home located on the 8th floor of the Main Hospital Building.
• Your child’s vital signs (heart and breathing rate, temperature and blood pressure) will be checked, blood work drawn and a history and physical completed. This will expedite check-in on the day of surgery and prevent delays.
• A child life specialist may also meet with you and your child to explain the surgery environment and procedures.

Verification and instructions

• Our admitting department will call you 10 to 14 days before surgery to verify patient and insurance information.
• A surgery staff member will call you 1 to 2 business days (Monday-Friday, excluding holidays) before surgery to provide final instructions and confirm surgery time. If you haven’t received a call by the last business day before surgery, call 330-543-1040 after 2 p.m.

Medication, vitamins and herbal supplements

• Heart, asthma or seizure medications should be given the morning of surgery with the smallest amount of water possible.
• Avoid vitamins, herbal products and ibuprofen (i.e., Advil, Motrin, Pediaprofen, etc.) for 10 days before your child’s scheduled surgery date.
• For products with aspirin (i.e., Aspirin, Pepto-Bismol, etc.) or Lovenox, follow the instructions from the doctor who ordered that medication.
• Tylenol or other products with acetaminophen can be given until the night before surgery, unless otherwise instructed by your surgeon/physician.
• Contact your endocrinologist for instructions on taking insulin. You should stop taking Metformin, Diabinase, Glucatrol and Glucophage 24 hours before surgery.

Skin conditions and illness

• Contact us if your child has a rash, cuts or bruises in the surgery area, or has poison ivy, chicken pox or another illness causing a rash.
• Contact us if your child is sick or hospitalized within 2 weeks of the surgery date.

For your child’s health and safety, follow this step-by-step schedule to prepare for anesthesia or sedation. Your child should stop eating food 8 hours before surgery and stop liquids as the procedure time approaches. It is important for your child to have an empty stomach before anesthesia or sedation. Otherwise, food or liquid could get into the lungs if vomiting occurs during the procedure. If you do not follow the eating/drinking instructions your child’s health care team provides, the procedure may be rescheduled.

Day of Surgery

Before you arrive

• Have your child bathe or shower and wash his hair. Follow any special soap/scrub instructions from your surgeon/physician.
• Children may brush their teeth if they are able to do so without swallowing water.
• Remove all make-up, nail polish, jewelry, piercings and hair accessories with metal (including hair extensions).
• Bring a box or case to store contacts and removable orthodontic appliances if you cannot leave them at home.
• Your child should wear loose, comfortable clothing.
• Have your child bring a favorite comfort item to take into surgery. To help prevent infection, wash this item before bringing it to the hospital.

Once you arrive at the hospital

• You must arrive at the hospital 90 minutes before the scheduled surgery start time.
• Your child’s surgery is scheduled in the GOJO Outpatient Surgery Center in Akron. Park in the P2 Exchange Street parking deck, 348 Locust Street. Upon entering the building, you’ll be screened, which includes someone taking your temperature and asking a number of screening questions related to COVID-19.
• Upon arrival, a urine specimen will be collected on all females who have begun menstruation or spotting.
• The anesthesiologist will evaluate your child before the operation to ensure a safe anesthetic during surgery. The type of anesthesia and method of delivery are based on your child’s age, type and length of surgery, general health and other factors.
• Due to visitor restrictions, only one adult is permitted in the pre- and post-operative areas. Child care is not provided.
• A legal guardian must accompany your child to the hospital on surgery day.

After surgery

• The surgeon will speak to you privately about the procedure.
• Your child will be taken to the post anesthesia care unit where 2 visitors older than 18 years will be allowed.
• The outpatient pharmacy is available to fill any home-going prescriptions.
• A parent, legal guardian or other adult must be available to drive the child home

Changes in behavior

You may notice a change in your child’s behavior before or after surgery. Clinginess is a common post-hospital behavior, but children are resilient and they’ll typically work through it. If disruptive behaviors last longer than 6 weeks, talk to your child’s doctor. Encourage your child to play “doctor” and “hospital,” draw pictures of their experience, and/or journal about their experience. These types of activities will help lead them to a healthy recovery.

Should you have questions about preparing your child for anesthesia or sedation, please contact:

GOJO Outpatient Surgery Center Kay Jewelers Pavilion, Third Floor
330-543-1040

Akron Children’s Hospital Surgical Services Main Hospital Building, Fourth Floor
330-543-8529

Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley
The Kikel Center for Pediatric Surgery
Beeghly Campus, Building A 330-746-8110

Presurgery instructions for the Akron campus can be found at: https://www.akronchildrens.org/audio_video/Pre-surgery-preparations-Akron-Campus.html

Presurgery instructions for the Boardman campus can be found at: https://www.akronchildrens.org/pages/Before-surgery-Kikel-Surgery-Center-Beeghly.html