Pediatric Surgery

Life happens. Sometimes that means the people we love needing special help. For our patients who need surgeries, whether it’s a small outpatient procedure, or a more invasive life-saving treatment, we’re here for you. You’re not going to trust your special little one to just anybody. That’s why every day our pediatric surgery teams are learning, growing, and putting the time into being some of the best at what they do.

At Palm Beach Health Network, we have a multidisciplinary team of pediatric sub-specialists, in-house pediatricians, and board-certified Pediatric Anesthesiologists. In addition, to care for the unique needs of children we offer a 24-hour dedicated Pediatric Emergency Room, pediatric same-day surgery center and pediatric inpatient rooms.

We’re here to Help

Hearing that your child needs surgery is never easy, but having an idea of what to expect ahead of time can make the process less stressful for you and your child. We’ll do everything we can to help guide you through this experience while remaining as comfortable and relaxed as possible.

Preparing Your Child for Surgery

Children can become very anxious and fearful about having to spend the night at the hospital. As the parent, there are a number of ways you can help ease your child into the idea of an overnight stay. By the time they arrive for their hospital stay, they will feel secure and safe at the hospital.

If you prepare children ahead of time, it may positively affect their behavior better during the stay and after they go home. One of the best things you can do for your child is to communicate with them, in a way that’s appropriate to their age level. Reassure the child that they don’t need to be concerned about the hospital stay. Allow them to ask any questions and clear up any misconceptions.

Common fears children may have about being in the hospital can include being away from family and friends, having a part of their body injured, or experiencing pain. You can help your children deal with these fears with these ideas:

• Arrange for a tour of the hospital before admission.
• Talk about what will happen to them in general, understandable terms so they know what to expect.
• Emphasize that the child has not done anything wrong and is not being punished.
• Explain the benefits of going to the hospital, such as, “After surgery for your broken leg you will be able to do gymnastics again.”
• Encourage the child to ask questions to their doctors and nurses.
• Be understanding if the child starts to express fears about going to the hospital or displays regressive behavior, such as potty training or being afraid of the dark.

You could also role-play with a doll or teddy bear by taking the toy’s temperature or listening to its heartbeat. Parents may not fully realize their children’s fear about the surgery. Be sure to explain to children that they will not feel pain during the operation, will wake up from anesthesia, and will have their parents waiting for them when they wake up.

Before Your Child’s Surgery:

• Read any information your doctors or nurses may give you and follow their instructions carefully.
• Plan to take the day of your child’s surgery off from work. Your child needs you, and you’re required to be at the hospital during surgery so our staff can reach you at all times.
• Arrange for someone to care for other children in the home the day of the surgery. You’ll need to accompany your child to parts of the hospital where other children aren’t permitted.
• Find out the best route between your home and the location your child is having their surgery at and save the directions in your navigation system if you have one. (You may want to drive the route ahead of time.)
• Make sure your child does NOT eat or drink anything after midnight on the evening before surgery.

A nurse will call before your child’s surgery to take a medical history, provide instructions and answer any questions you may have. Many parents wonder about anesthesia and the effects it may have on their children. After a thorough examination, our pediatric anesthesiologists will discuss with you which type of anesthesia may be best suited for your child.

The Day of Your Child’s Surgery

• Plan to arrive at the scheduled time.
• Bring a few books, toys and portable games to occupy your child during waiting periods.

After surgery, your doctor will come to speak with you. While you may be told ahead of time how long the surgery is likely to take, please remember that this is only an estimate. Allow 30 to 40 minutes for your child to recover from the anesthesia and be transferred to the recovery room.

You’ll be able to see your child once he or she is awake. The time may vary, as each child is different, but please be assured that a nurse will come to you at the appropriate time.

Remember that although most patients experience some discomfort after surgery, we’ll do all we can to ease your child’s pain with appropriate medication and a caring approach.

After your Child’s Surgery

• Follow the specific instructions you receive regarding when your child may return to school and what activities to avoid.
• Read and follow all written discharge instructions and schedule a follow-up appointment after you go home.

Pediatric Anesthesia

When children need surgery or some other complicated treatment, they may need to go under anesthesia during the procedure. However, children have different requirements when it comes to sedative medications. Their bodies are more sensitive to the effects of anesthesia and they can get overwhelmed when they face a medical procedure. The Pediatric Sedation Program at Palm Beach Health Network is designed to provide our pediatric patients with the individual, specialized care and medications needed to alleviate both physical pain and emotional anxieties.

At the same time, it is important that your child is relaxed, comfortable and stays very still during the procedure to obtain the best possible images or result. Sedation medication can make this possible. Your child will feel relaxed and drowsy, and she won’t feel any pain during the procedure or remember it afterwards.

Our Pediatric Anesthesiologists treat children from the newborn period through the teenage years, and beyond in patients with chronic pediatric conditions. They choose to make pediatric care the core of their medical practice, and the unique nature of medical and surgical care of children is learned from advanced training and experience in practice.

The Palm Beach Children’s Hospital is proud to be verified as a Level II Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Children’s Surgery Verification (CSV) Quality Improvement Program, an established verification and quality improvement program designed to optimize the delivery of children’s surgical care.