Pediatric Surgery

As you get ready for your child’s surgery, we offer suggestions to put you at ease. Check out these recommendations and instructions:

• Prepare your child using words they understand when you talk about the surgery. This helps your child understand the reason for the surgery and the visit to the hospital. Encourage your child to ask questions.
• Tell the surgeon if your child is taking aspirin or ibuprofen. The doctor may want you to stop giving these medications for up to two weeks before surgery.
• Tell the surgeon or nurse if your child has cold symptoms, fever, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea within two days of surgery.
• If lab tests are ordered before surgery, please go to the hospital laboratory.
• NPO  This is a medical abbreviation that means “nothing by mouth.” Be sure to follow the eating and drinking restrictions. Food or liquids in your child’s stomach can cause choking or vomiting during the procedure.
• Remember to bring your child’s insurance card, your ID and any payments required when you come to the hospital.
• Bring a list of all medications your child takes, including over the counter and herbal supplements.
• Dress your child in comfortable clothes and bring a favorite blanket or stuffed toy to help your child feel more relaxed.  Have a pillow and blanket in the car for the ride home.
• Leave home early and arrive at your scheduled time.

When you get to the hospital:

• Park and go to the hospital entrance or surgery center entrance. If you have a driver, the driver can drop you and your child at the entrance to register while they park the car.

Your child should be clean and comfortable when coming to the hospital for surgery. Being clean helps prevent infection and pain that comes along with infection. Before you arrive:

• Assure your child has a bath or shower the night before and the morning of surgery.
• Wash with an antiseptic soap, paying particular attention to the area that will be operated on. The surgeon or staff may provide soap containing chlorhexidine during your preop visit. Chlorohexidine is considered most effective for this purpose.
• Use a clean washcloth.
• Dry with a clean towel.
• If your child is older and smokes, encourage them to stop smoking. Patients who smoke are more prone to infection. Tell the surgeon and, if possible, come up with a plan to quit before surgery.
• Do not shave near the area to be operated on. This can irritate the skin and make it easier to develop an infection.

Like most parents, you will be anxious on the day of surgery, but we offer some tips to help you feel comfortable about the process.

Before Surgery

• Your nurse may bring you special cleansing wipes and give you instructions on how to perform skin antisepsis before surgery. The wipes work to reduce the number of organisms on your skin’s surface that could cause surgical site infections.
• Speak up if someone tries to shave prep the surgical site. Ask, “Why?”  Ask to speak to the surgeon if you still have concerns.

Going to Surgery

• NPO - This is a medical abbreviation that means “nothing through the mouth.” Be sure to follow the eating and drinking restrictions. Food or liquids in your child’s stomach can cause choking or vomiting during the procedure.
• A parent or legal guardian must be with your child throughout their stay at the hospital.
• If you have other children, arrange for someone to care for those children at home or get them to and from school.
• When you arrive, a nurse will prepare your child for surgery and have you sign consent forms for the surgery.
• The Pediatric Surgery Center at Willis Knighton South  child life specialist (CLS) will help your child cope with the fear and anxiety related to surgery. The CLS evaluates your child’s needs and lets them know what to expect. Ask about the availability of the CLS on the day of your child’s surgery. Willis Knighton South is the only campus where a CLS is available.
• Expect hospital staff to ask for your name and your child’s name and date of birth multiple times. This helps ensure your child’s safety.
• The anesthesiologist and surgeon visit with you in the pre-op area to go over the plan for surgery, confirm consent, and answer any questions you or your child may have. Surgical site marking occurs during this visit.
• Your child may receive a sedative while in the pre-op area. The medication may cause them to become sleepy and they may have difficulty keeping their balance. Do not leave your child alone or allow them to walk without supervision.
• When it’s time to go to the operating room (OR), an OR nurse and pre-op nurse do a hand off and safety check. Then your child is taken to the OR where the surgical team is ready.

Parents Wait on Campus During Surgery

A parent or guardian must remain in the Day Surgery waiting room on the hospital campus throughout the surgery. During the surgery, a nurse gives you updates and you may need to sign forms for your child’s care. After the operation, the surgeon will explain what they did and tell you how things went.

We want you to feel confident about the care of your child after surgery.  Here’s  what you can expect.

Your child is moved to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) after surgery. After your child wakes from anesthesia, we'll take him or her to the postoperative area.

It’s not unusual for children to cry after surgery. Your child may be restless, sleepy or feel uncomfortable. We’ll give medication to help them be calm, but understand that they may be sad and fussy for a while.  

If your child is must stay at the hospital after surgery, he or she will be admitted to a bed in an appropriate unit. A staff member will tell you when the room is assigned.

If your child goes straight home after surgery, you’ll receive a follow-up call from a nurse on the day after surgery. This will give you a chance to ask questions and discuss related problems. Be sure you give us a good phone number and that you take the call or return our call quickly if we leave a message.

When your child is discharged, you will receive instructions to help you care for him or her after surgery.

Here are some tips to care for the surgical site and avoid infection:

• Everyone administering care should clean their hands before giving care. Speak up if you see hospital staff fail to clean their hands (i.e. use soap and water or an alcohol-based product). It’s okay to ask them to clean their hands before performing an exam.
• Keep your child’s hands (and yours) away from the surgical wound. Just say “Don’t touch!” in your most calming voice.
• Don’t allow family or friends to touch the surgical wound or dressings.
• Encourage family and friends to clean their hands before and after visiting. If you don’t see them do it, ask them to do so.
• If your child has any symptoms of an infection, for example a fever or redness and pain at the surgical site, notify the surgeon immediately.

How do I help my child with pain?

Pain medications are given based on your child’s needs and according to the doctor’s orders. Pain may be related to the surgical site, but it can also come from muscle soreness, gas and other sources. Here are some tips to help comfort your child and relieve their pain:

• Speak in a soft soothing voice
• Provide soft comforting touch
• Listen to and reassuring him/her
• Distract your child by singing, watching TV, listening to music or playing with their comfort toy
• Help your child self-soothe through deep breathing and relaxation
• Help them reposition for comfort
• Encourage your child to tell you or the nurse if uncomfortable
• Hold or sit with your child
• Allow your child to make choices when possible
• Encourage your child to move and walk as instructed by the nurse

Your child’s health and comfort is our priority. Doctors and nurses are committed to providing high quality compassionate care and part of that is assuring you have the information you need.

Please call us if you have any questions about your child’s surgery. You can call between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call the location where your child’s surgery is schedule and leave a message. Someone will return your call.

• Willis Knighton South: 318-212-5636
• Willis Knighton Bossier: 318-212-7959
• Willis Knighton Pierremont: 318-212-7959

If you have an immediate concern after-hours, call your surgeon’s office. Your call will transfer to the doctor’s answering service.