Who Will You See at the Hospital?
If it's not an emergency, you'll have an appointment when you need to come to the
hospital and get ready for the surgery. You'll see someone at the reception desk,
who will take lots of information like your name, address, phone number, your parents'
names, and more. Sometimes, you'll check into the hospital to stay a while after your
surgery. Other times, a kid can have minor surgery and go home the same day.
As it gets closer to the time of the operation, you'll probably see a nurse who
will help you get ready. The nurse may ask you and your parents some questions about
your health and if you're allergic to anything. You also might get a physical exam
to check your temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure and make sure you are feeling
fine. If you didn't get your questions answered before the operation, it's OK to ask
the nurse now.
One good thing about surgery is that you usually get to sleep through it. The doctor
or nurse who helps you fall into a deep sleep is called an anesthesiologist
(say: an-es-thee-zee-AHL-uh-jist) or nurse anesthetist (ah-NES-theh-tist).
He or she is specially trained to give you medicine that helps you fall asleep and
stay asleep until the operation is over. The medicine also prevents you from feeling
any pain while the operation is happening.
Before you drift off to sleep, you'll probably see the surgeon, too. That's the
person who will do your operation.
Who Are All Those Masked People?
To keep the OR germ free, the people who work there wear caps over their hair and
masks over their mouths and noses to avoid spreading germs. They even wear booties
over their shoes! They might all look alike, but everyone in the OR has a different
job.
What Happens on the Day of Surgery?
If you will be going to sleep for the surgery, you probably won't be able to eat
breakfast. That's because having food — or even water
— in your stomach can make it dangerous to give you anesthesia. You'll be told
ahead of time what you can and can't eat or drink. After the operation, your doctor
will give you the green light to eat and drink again.
You may be given some special medicine to drink just before you go into the operating
room and go off to sleep. This medicine is to help make you feel very relaxed.
Your mom or dad will be able to stay with you until it's time for surgery. Sometimes,
parents can even be there while their kid gets the anesthesia. But parents can't stay
in the operating room. They'll wait in a waiting room until it's finished. Your doctor
will probably talk to them as soon as the surgery's done to tell them that it's over
and you're now in the PACU.
What's the PACU?
PACU stands for post-anesthesia care unit. "Post" means "after," so you can probably
guess that the PACU is where you go after your operation is done. This is the "wake-up"
room, and that's exactly what you'll be doing there — waking up!
A nurse will be there to see how you're doing as you wake up. Often, your parents
are able to see you in post-op, so when you wake up, they'll be there. Other times,
they may have to wait a while, but you'll be able to see them soon.
Once you're fully awake, you'll either be moved to a hospital room (if you're staying
overnight) or to another PACU, where you can wait with your parents while the doctors
or nurses see how you're doing.
Even if you feel great right after surgery, the nurses and doctors will tell you
to take it easy. Rest is an important part of getting better. So rest up and feel
better soon!