Pediatric Surgical Patients

Please read these instructions carefully before surgery so that your child's procedure will not have to be canceled or rescheduled.

• Your child is scheduled to report to the Surgicenter. If you do not have a check in time, call the Surgicenter the day before between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. to find out the time to report for surgery.
• To get to the Surgicenter on the day of surgery, enter Womack Army Medical Center from the All American Freeway or clinic side of the building. Walk through the clinic building past the pharmacy to the elevator by the snack bar. Take the elevator to the second floor. Exit left from the elevator and take the hallway on the right. The Surgicenter waiting area is on the left.
• Your child should not have anything to eat or drink after midnight the night before their surgery unless specified otherwise by the anesthesiologist. No candy or chewing gum.
• Your child should not wear colored nail polish. Pierced earrings should be removed and metal objects should not be worn in the hair.
• Children, other than the patient, are not permitted in the Surgicenter for safety reasons. It may be difficult to keep a constant watch on your other children. Also there is the potential for prolonged waiting times for Family members. Please bring additional diapers if required. Please bring a car seat or booster seat if required by law.
• Follow the instructions given to you and your child by the anesthesiologist during the pre-op interview about taking any morning medications. Do not give your child diabetic pills or insulin the morning of surgery.
• If your child is asthmatic bring their inhalants to the hospital with you.
• If crutches are required prior to your child's surgery be sure to bring them with you to the hospital. Do not leave them at home or in the car.

What To Expect On the Day of Surgery

We ask you and your child to report to the Surgicenter front desk at the time specified. This report time will provide time to get your child prepared for surgery. Your child's surgery may be delayed if the surgery before takes longer than expected or if there is an emergency.

When it is time, one parent may go with your child to the holding area where the anesthesia provider and operating room nurse will talk to you. Your child may be in the holding area for 30 minutes or more. Once the surgical team is ready, the anesthesia provider or the surgeon will accompany your child to the operating room. At this time you will return to the waiting area.

Staff members will clean their hands using either soap and water or sanitize prior to and after starting your child's IV, before and after their care, after coughing or sneezing, before and after wearing gloves. You have the right to ask staff members if they have cleaned their hands.

After the surgery is completed the surgeon will come out to the waiting area to talk to the parents. One parent will be allowed to go to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit to sit with your child while they recover from anesthesia. The length of time spent in recovery can vary and is dependent on how long your child was in the operating room. If your child is going home from the recovery area, they will need to be able to drink fluids and hold them down. Overnight patients will be taken to the Pediatric Ward, 3 North.

Other Information

No visitors, other than the one parent, are permitted in the PACU. Other Family members will be asked to wait in the surgery waiting area.

All staff involved in your child's care will use the same identification process; asking child's name and date of birth. DO NOT allow your child to accept any treatment or medication unless staff have properly identified your child.

If you have any further questions or concerns about your child's surgery instructions prior to the date of their surgery, please contact the Pre-Admission Unit staff.

Speak up if you have questions or concerns. If you don't understand any information, ask again. You have the right to know!