One day before surgery

Children and youth:

• take a bath or shower the evening before (or the morning of) surgery
• remove all make up and nail polish
• remove all jewellery (including plastic jewellery) from piercings (from nose, tongue, belly button, eyebrows, ears, etc.)
• use a pad instead of a tampon on the day of surgery if you are having your period

Parents, guardians and caregivers:

• arrange child care for your other children
• speak with CHEO staff to confirm the time you should arrive
• arrange for a ride home from the hospital
• prepare your child or youth so they have an age-appropriate understanding of what’s going to happen at the hospital (see Speaking to your child about surgery)
• have acetaminophen (Tylenol® or Tempra®) and Gravol® on hand at home
• pack a bag with comfortable clothes, slippers, music, books and a special comfort toy

We do not have lockable storage for your valuable items. You are responsible for keeping track of any valuable items that you bring to the hospital.

Call your surgeon’s office as soon as possible if your child or youth has had or been in contact with someone who has these contagious disease illnesses in the three weeks before surgery: chicken pox, mumps, measles, tuberculosis (TB), whooping cough or scarlet fever.

Contact your surgeon’s office if your child or youth has had any of these symptoms in the last week:

• has a cold or cough with mucus (and doesn’t feel like eating or is very tired)
• is wheezing
• has a fever (above 38 C)
• is vomiting or has diarrhea

Between 4 and 11 pm the evening before surgery (or if you can’t reach your surgeon), call Admitting at 613-737-7600, ext. 2310, and tell them your child or youth is ill.

After 11 pm the evening before surgery, call 613-737-2346 (Surgical Day Unit) and leave a message. Be sure to include your child’s name, date of surgery, surgeon’s name and the illness (for example, a cold or fever).

We may ask you to come to the Surgical Day Unit in the morning to have them assessed by the anesthesiologist to decide if we will go ahead with the surgery or procedure.

For their safety, we may have to reschedule their surgery

You are not allowed to drive for 24 hours after having an anesthetic.

Your child’s or youth’s surgery may be delayed or rescheduled if they have had something to eat or haven’t followed the fasting requirements for liquids.

Stop solid foods at midnight the day before your procedure

Stop formula / fortified breastmilk 6 hours before your procedure time

Stop breast milk 4 hours before your procedure time

Stop clear fluids (apple juice, water) when you arrive at the hospital

Why can’t my child or youth eat or drink before surgery or a procedure?

Everyone having anesthesia must have an empty stomach

While a patient is asleep during surgery, food or fluid in the stomach can come back up into the throat and go into the lungs. This can cause problems with breathing and infection.

Please note: Some children may require different fasting times and this will be discussed with you by your care team.

On the day of the surgery or procedure:

• do not give your child or youth gum or candies
• encourage your child or youth to drink water or apple juice until arrival at hospital

Does your child have to take medication?

If the surgeon or anesthesiologist tells you to give your child or youth regular medication on the day of surgery, give the medication with a very small amount of water only. Do not give with apple sauce, yogurt or other foods.

Is your child or youth having an endoscopy?

If your child is having an endoscopy, please follow the special fasting guidelines from your doctor or nurse.

One or two adults can accompany your child or youth. Please make sure to arrange child care for your other children — do not bring them to CHEO with you (unless they are under 10 months). At least one parent or legal guardian must stay at CHEO during the surgery or procedure.

We want to make sure our patients get well quickly. Please help us prevent the spread of infections:

• Clean your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand gel. You must wash with soap and water if you can see dirt or if there is mucous on your hands.
• If you are sick (a fever, cough, runny nose, diarrhea, a new rash or are feeling ill) and your child or youth is having surgery, stay home and send another parent or legal guardian with your child or youth.
• Remember to have a bath or shower the night before (or the morning of) your surgery.

Unfortunately, surgeries and procedures are sometimes delayed or rescheduled because:

• we need to do emergency surgery on a seriously ill or injured child or youth
• another surgery takes longer than expected.
• we do not have an inpatient bed available for children or youth needing to stay overnight after surgery (caused by high numbers of patients in the hospital)

We will do our best to keep you informed about any delays. We only reschedule surgeries if we have no other choice.

If your child’s or youth’s surgery gets delayed, we will book a new surgery date as quickly as possible. We appreciate your understanding!