Coming for Surgery

Coming to CHEO for surgery

Tip: bookmark this page and check back in the days leading up to surgery for important checklists and reminders!
It's important to follow the checklists and guidelines closely — especially the fasting guidelines — to avoid any unnecessary surgery delays or cancellations.

If you don’t already have a CHEO MyChart account, please visit CHEO.on.ca/MyChart to learn more and sign-up.
There will be a pre-anesthesia medical screening questionnaire that will need to be completed using MyChart before your procedure.

Checklists

Week before surgery

Make sure your child/youth does not take ibuprofen or anti-inflammatory medications for one week before surgery. Do not give Advil or Motrin, Aspirin, Aleve (ASA) or Pepto-Bismol Naprosyn, Ginkgo or St. John's Wort.

Your surgeon or anesthesiologist will tell you whether it's appropriate to give your child or youth their usual medication on the day of surgery, so that you can plan ahead.
Talk to your surgeon about whether you will need any special equipment for the car or home to care for your child or youth after surgery.
If you will need language interpretation services, ask your surgeon's office for help arranging that.

Day before surgery

What to do:

Review and closely follow the fasting guidelines (rules around what you can and cannot eat or drink before surgery) below. If the rules are not followed, the surgery will need to be cancelled for their safety.
Have your child or youth take a shower or bath the evening before, or the morning of, their surgery.
Make plans for childcare for any other children
Arrange for a ride home after surgery
Confirm what time you should arrive at CHEO the next day

Visit our Maps and locations page to find latest information on construction, parking and finding your way around CHEO.

What to bring:
A bag to hold your child/youth's belongings, including comfortable clothes, slippers, pacifiers, diapers, a reusable cup, sippy cup or bottle, as well as fun items like music, a book and a special comfort toy or blanket.
Any medical equipment that you and your child will need, which can include prescription eyeglasses, inhalers, breast bumps and any equipment that the surgeon has prescribed.
A small pail or towel in car, as some children/youth get nauseated on the way home.
Important medical and legal documents and information, including:

Your child/youth's health card
Legal guardianship papers (if you are not the parent)
A list of any prescribed medications or supplements that your child or youth takes. Bring any inhalers or medications that your child takes daily with you.
Private insurance information (if applicable)
Information about your local pharmacy (i.e. phone and fax number)

We have space to store non-valuable items, but they do not lock. You are responsible for valuables.

Day of surgery

Bring your packed bag with important items for you and your child/youth (find the full suggested packing list in the Day before surgery section above).
Make sure your child/youth has removed any makeup, nail polish, metal and plastic jewellery and piercings (from the tongue, nose, mouth, ear, belly button, eyebrows, etc.)

Review the most up to date information for CHEO’s parent, caregiver and visitor presence and parking

What to do if your child/youth is sick right before their surgery

It is important that your child does not have any other illnesses that will make it harder for them to recover from their surgery.

Symptoms to look out for

Call the pre-anesthesia clinic at 613-737-7600 ext. 3330 (Monday to Friday, 7am-3pm) if your child or youth has had any of these symptoms in the 2 weeks before surgery:

New or worsening chronic cough, barky cough or cold with mucus (and doesn’t feel like eating or is very tired)
New or worsening chronic shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, wheezing, stridor
fever (above 38c)
vomiting or has diarrhea
asthma exacerbation (requiring frequent use of rescue inhaler- Ventolin- blue puffer)
sore throat/ strep A infection
pneumonia
viral Respiratory illness (bronchiolitis, croup, covid 19,flu, rsv)
new or worsening chronic congestion
Worse meaning not normal for your child and/ or not related to other causes or conditions (allergies, mild dry dough, mild clear congestion/ secretions)

Call the pre-anesthesia clinic at 613-737-7600 ext. 3330 as soon as possible if your child or youth has had or been in contact with someone who has one of these contagious diseases or illnesses in the 3 weeks before surgery:

chicken pox
mumps, measles
tuberculosis (TB)
whooping cough
scarlet fever

Who to contact the evening or night before surgery

If your child becomes ill between 4 and 11 pm the evening before surgery (or if you can’t reach your surgeon):

Call the Surgical Day Unit/PACU at 613-737-7600, ext. 1446, and tell them your child or youth is ill.

If your child becomes ill overnight (after 11pm) before their scheduled surgery:

Call 613-737-7600 ext. 1446 (Surgical Day Unit) the following morning at or after 6:30am to speak to the preoperative nurse.

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.

Coming to CHEO for surgery

Jump to the information you need

Before surgery Day before surgery Day of surgery After surgery

Before surgery

Checklist: the week before your surgery

Talk to your surgeon about whether you will need any special equipment for the car or home to care for your child or youth after surgery.

If you will need language interpretation services, ask your surgeon's office for help arranging that.

Learn more about how to prepare for surgery

All about anesthesia

During surgery, your child or youth will have medications to keep them comfortable. This is called anesthesia. It can involve many levels of sedation from numbing the area to a deep sleep (general anesthesia). For more complex patients or procedures there is an acute pain service (with anesthesiologist and nurse practitioner) that will help surgeons manage pain. This may include oral medications, IV medications, epidural (or similar injections in the back) or nerve blocks. Your care team will give you more resources and information on these options if required.

If your child or youth is booked to have surgery or another procedure under anesthesia, you may already be in the process of evaluation by the Pre-Anesthesia Clinic. If your surgeon decides you don’t require a pre-anesthesia assessment clinic visit, your child or youth will be assessed on the day of surgery.

Who is an anesthesiologist?
An anesthesiologist is a medical doctor who specializes in administering anesthesia to patients before, during and after surgery or other medical procedures. They help keep your child safely asleep, manage pain and vital signs during surgery or procedure.

CHEO's Pre-anesthesia Clinic

About CHEO's Pre-anesthesia Clinic

Depending on your child/ youth’s medical history and the surgery or procedure they are having, your appointment may be with an anesthesiologist, nurse practitioner, or registered nurse usually about 2 weeks before the surgery. We offer services in French and English. We have translation services available if you speak another language, but your doctor’s office will need to call us ahead of time to make these arrangements.

This appointment may be conducted by a pre-booked telephone call appointment, a virtual video consult or an in-person appointment assessment.

Your child/ youth MUST be present for the in person or virtual Pre-anesthesia clinic appointment.

What to expect during your appointment with CHEO's Pre-anesthesia Clinic

Location: C3, on level 2 at CHEO. Please register at the desk when you arrive.
Phone number: 613-737-7600 ext. 1252

What you need to bring to the clinic

your child’s or youth’s most recent health card
proof of your address (a driver’s license or recent bill/letter to your address)
medical insurance information (if applicable)
your child’s or youth’s immunization record
a list of medications, homeopathic or herbal remedies and dietary supplements your child is taking

What will happen during the appointment

You will meet either with the nurse only or the nurse, followed by the anesthesiologist or nurse practitioner. They will:

ask questions about your child or youth’s health
measure their weight and height
check their heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen level
let you know what to expect on the day of the procedure or surgery
discuss risks and benefits of anesthesia/surgery
discuss pain management after surgery
may order investigations (e.g. blood tests or x-rays) before surgery. If you/your child or youth needs these tests, your visit to CHEO will be longer.

To help ensure that your child is safe to proceed with surgery, other pre-operative tests (blood test, urine sample) may be required to ensure your child is not anemic, does not have an infection and/or is not pregnant (applicable to patients 12 years of age or older).

Talking about anesthesia

It’s important to prepare children and youth for the anesthetic by talking about it with them ahead of time. Explain to your child or youth that they will:

get medicine to help them feel comfortable and sleep before the surgery and during surgery
breathe the medicine in through a mask or get it through an IV (a soft tube placed in a vein in the hand or arm)
have an IV, no matter how the anesthetic is started. A numbing cream/spray is often applied to the spot before the IV is inserted, if it is being placed while they are awake
receive additional oxygen or gas through a mask or small breathing tube
will be taken care of the whole time by the anesthesiologist

The doctor you meet in the pre-anesthesia clinic may not be the anesthesiologist on the day of the surgery. Because different anesthesiologists have different preferences in their practice, there is often more than one way to successfully provide for your child or youth’s comfort and safety during their operation. This means the physician who sees your child or youth in the clinic may discuss more than one anesthetic technique with you, and the final decision will be left to the physician who delivers the anesthetic on the day of the surgery, in consultation with you.

Giving consent for a surgery or procedure

Your care provider may ask for a consent form to be signed during a clinic visit in advance of the procedure, or – if this does not happen – on the day.

The consent form must be signed by the patient if they are capable of making their own decisions with respect to the procedure. If they are not capable, the consent form must be signed by a caregiver with authority to make healthcare-related decisions. This could be a parent with decision-making responsibility or a legal guardian. If you are not already listed as a parent with decision-making responsibility or a legal guardian in the patient’s medical record, please ensure that you bring appropriate documentation with you. CHEO will need to review this documentation before you sign the consent form.

The law provides that consent must be voluntary and informed. This means that, before the consent form is signed, the care provider needs to explain:

the procedure and why it is needed
why it will help (the benefits)
what problems could happen (the risks)
any other ways to treat the problem (if there are any); and,
what might happen if the procedure is not performed

Please do not hesitate to ask your care provider any questions you may have about the procedure. There are no silly questions.

Epic eConsent FAQ

What is electronic consent (eConsent)?

It’s an electronic version of CHEO’s informed consent form. After having the discussion with your care provider as to why the procedure is necessary, what will happen during the procedure and what the benefits and risks might be, your signature will be captured digitally, indicating you’ve provided informed consent for the procedure to go ahead. The electronic form will be stored in your chart in the Electronic Medical Records System. This replaces the previous paper-based consent form.

Is an electronic signature less ‘valid’ than a wet ink signature on paper?

No, the law in Ontario allows for e-signatures.

What if I am not comfortable using a tablet or computer or prefer a paper version to sign?

The provider will fill out the Consent to Procedure form in the Electronic Medical Records system and will print a paper copy for the child or parent/guardian to sign. The form will later be scanned and stored in the Electronic Medical Record system.

Can someone help me if I have trouble signing the form digitally?

Yes. Your care provider will be there to help you sign.

What happens if I press the wrong button or make a mistake while signing?

Your provider can start over and create a new version to replace what is there.

Is my child’s personal and health information secure when I sign digitally?

When you sign digitally, the consent form is stored directly in our Electronic Medical Records system as part of your child’s chart. There is not an additional risk associated with the electronic version.

Who can see the consent form after it is signed?

Those people involved in your/your child’s care who have access to your/your child’s personal health information in the Electronic Medical Records system can access the form.

Will the consent form become part of my child’s medical record?

Yes.

Can I get a copy of the consent form after I sign it?

Yes. Your provider can print off a copy of the form for you.

Can I review the consent form later if I have questions?

Yes.

What if both parents or guardians need to give consent?

There is no legal requirement for both parents/guardians to sign the consent form unless there is a family court order which says both parents must make healthcare-related decisions together.

What if I change my mind after signing the form digitally?

If you wish to withdraw your consent to this procedure, please let your care provider know as soon as possible. Your are provider may wish to discuss this with you.

What options are available if someone cannot read the form easily on a screen or needs language support?

Your provider can print a paper copy if you cannot easily read the screen. Translation services continue to be available as required.

If you have any questions or feedback related to the digital consent procedure, please contact CHEO’s Patient Experience Team at 613-737-7600 ext. 3078 or experience@cheo.on.ca who can help best navigate next steps.

Talking about surgery and procedures

Having surgery can be stressful for your child or youth and their whole family. Knowing what to expect on the day of surgery will help everyone to be better prepared. Make sure to:

Tell the truth about what will happen — this helps your child or youth trust you and the CHEO staff and medical staff. The truth is often less scary than what children are thinking.
Ask questions and have your child or youth tell you what they know. This is a good way to find out what they are thinking, so you can correct any misunderstandings.
Avoid bribes or threats.
Reassure them that it is OK to feel nervous or scared.
Give your child or youth some control by giving age-appropriate choices: “Which toy/activity would you like to bring?”

Supporting children and youth

Child life specialists are also available on the day of surgery. They can help explain what it’s like to have a surgery or procedure. Children and youth often have many questions about what will happen to them on the day of surgery.

Child life specialists:

develop ways for children and youth to cope with fear and anxiety
help prepare children and youth for tests and procedures
enhance children and youth’s emotional, social and intellectual growth during their hospital stay
offer chances for therapeutic play and organize playroom programs

If you have any questions or concerns about preparing your child or youth for surgery, please contact our Child Life team at 613-737-7600, ext. 3077.

Talking to babies and toddlers (birth to 3 years)

Bring along comfort items like pacifiers, favourite toys or blankets. After surgery, babies who are not breastfeeding are more likely to drink from a familiar bottle nipple or sippy cup, so bring empty ones with you.
Toddlers may react to changes in their routine. Reassure your child that the surgical team is there to help them get better. On the day of the surgery, you can help by:
- Rocking and holding your child
- Talking calmly and gently
- Distracting your child with toys or books
- Using simple explanations like, “The doctor is going to fix the bump on your tummy.”

Talking to preschool and school-aged children (3 to 12 years)

Children need time and encouragement to ask questions and share their feelings. You can help by:

Talking about the surgery or procedure ahead of time using a calm and relaxed voice
Using play to help your younger child understand the surgery (by using toy medical kits or books)
Explaining that the hospital is a safe place and staff and medical staff are there to help
Preparing your child for any stitches or bandages they may see

Talking to youth (12 to 18 years)

Youth are more independent, and they will be involved in their healthcare decisions. They may ask for detailed explanations. They are often worried about privacy. You can help by:

Being honest — they have a right to know about everything that will happen
Encouraging them to ask questions of you or hospital staff and medical staff
Giving space, so they can speak to the doctor or nurse alone if they wish

Info for youth

You probably have a lot of questions about your surgery. Make sure you talk with your parents or caregivers and your care team (surgeon, anesthesiologist, nurse practitioners, nurses, and Child Life Specialist) so they know what’s on your mind.

At anytime before, during, and after the surgery/ procedure you can ask to speak to your care team alone to ask questions and/ or relay information to them.

If you smoke, vape, drink alcohol or use drugs

You must tell your care team the truth if you use any of these. Smoking and/or vaping tobacco, nicotine and/or marijuana, using drugs or drinking alcohol before your surgery can cause risks that could make your surgery unsafe or affect your healing. Stop using these for at least a week before surgery.

If you are found under the influence of drugs and/ or alcohol on the day of surgery, it will be postponed.

Piercings and jewellery (metal and plastic)

Make sure to remove all studs and jewellery at home before coming for surgery, because:

Jewellery in and around the mouth can become loose or get accidentally pulled out during surgery. It can get stuck in your windpipe, end up in your stomach and cause choking.
Piercings may get caught or pulled out when we are positioning you on the operating room bed.
Wearing metal jewellery can cause burns if we use certain equipment during your surgery.
Avoid Henna tattoo’s on hands and arms prior to surgery/procedure as it can make it difficult for staff to see your veins.

Driving after surgery

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

For teens/tweens who menstruate

If you have your period, use a pad instead of a tampon on the day of surgery.

If there is a chance you may be pregnant, it is very important for you to tell your nurse or doctor. On the day of surgery you will be asked for a urine sample if you are 12 years old or older and assigned female at birth, to test for pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you use any form of birth control. You may receive an anesthetic medication that can lower the effectiveness of birth control medications. If you are on any type of hormonal contraception (birth control medication), you need to use a backup birth control method for up to 7 days after your surgical procedure.

You’ll need to remove your bra when you put on the hospital pajamas — nurses in the operating room will need to place heart monitor stickers on your chest before you fall asleep.

Day before surgery

Checklist: day before your surgery

What to do:

Your child/youth's health card
Legal guardianship papers (if you are not the parent)
A list of any prescribed medications or supplements that your child or youth takes. Bring any inhalers or medications that your child takes daily with you.
Private insurance information (if applicable)
Information about your local pharmacy (i.e. phone and fax number)

We have space to store non-valuable items, but they do not lock. You are responsible for valuables.

Fasting guidelines

The rules about eating and drinking before an operation are very important. Any food or liquid in your child’s stomach while going to sleep under anesthesia can flow up to the mouth and pass down into the lungs. This can cause problems with breathing and infection. Some children may require different fasting times, and this will be discussed with you by your care team.

If these rules are not followed, your child’s surgery/procedure will need to be cancelled. Please read them carefully.

Midnight before operation

Stop solid foods (this includes liquids with solid components/bits (i.e. orange juice, soup broth or bubble tea) as well as jello. (Jello is not a clear fluid)
Patients who no longer drink from a bottle should not have solids or any types of milk after midnight.

5 hours before operation

Stop formula.

4 hours before operation

Stop breastmilk (with and without fortification).

When you arrive at CHEO

Stop clear fluids (i.e. apple juice, water).

Does your child have to take medications?

Your surgeon or anesthesiologist will tell you if it is appropriate to give your child or youth regular medication on the day of surgery. Medications can be taken with sips of water or apple juice only.

Is your child or youth is having an endoscopy?

Please follow the special fasting guidelines from your doctor or nurse.

Questions about the fasting requirements and medications?

Please call the Pre-anesthesia clinic nurse at:

613-737-7600 ext. 3330 or you can send a myChart message to the pre-anesthesia clinic, available to answer any questions.

7:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday to Friday except Holidays.

Confirming the time of your surgery or procedure

We will call you 1 to 2 days before your surgery or procedure to confirm the time you should arrive at CHEO.

If we do not call you by 8pm the evening before, or you have questions about the arrival time, please call CHEO’s admitting department 613-737-7600 ext 2310, before 11pm.

Bathing instructions

At CHEO we do everything we can to prevent infections after surgery. You play an important role in reducing your child’s risk of infection by making sure they have bathed properly the evening before or the morning of their surgery or procedure.

Important: your child will need to bathe with liquid soap. The brand does not matter. The soap needs to be in liquid form to prevent cross contamination that can be caused by using bar soap.

Patients coming for surgery should remove all nail polish, jewelry including piercings. Do not wear makeup or apply lotion on the day of surgery. Put on clean comfortable clothing or pajamas/socks before arriving for surgery.

CHEO's parent, caregiver and visitor presence policy

Parent, caregiver and visitor presence policies

Please review the following information before arriving at CHEO.

Parents and caregivers are important members of the care team. They actively work with us to provide vital health information only they know and give emotional support in the way only a parent or caregiver can.

For infection prevention and safety reasons, we have limits on how many parents, caregivers and visitors can be onsite at one time. We also limit the number at the bedside.

We appreciate your patience and understanding in keeping everyone safe, particularly during the peak viral season.

Allowed number of parents, caregivers and visitors

Last updated: March 2026

Clinic and Surgical Day Unit appointments

TWO parents or caregivers are allowed to accompany children and youth while at CHEO for clinic and Surgical Day Unit appointments.

Emergency Department visits

ONE parent or caregiver is permitted to accompany children and youth while at CHEO's Emergency Department.

Staying at the hospital (admitted to CHEO's inpatient units)

A maximum of TWO parents or caregivers are permitted at the bedside at a time.

Only ONE caregiver of immediate family can stay overnight.

Visitors

During non-peak viral season, visitors are permitted with a maximum of TWO at the bedside.

Exceptions to these rules

We recognize that some families (e.g., people with disabilities) require additional support to help the patients, parents or caregivers. If you are coming to Emergency, please discuss your need for an exception upon arrival at CHEO Emergency. If you are staying as an inpatient, please discuss this with your care team.

Who can't enter

Parents and caregivers who do not pass the entrance screening.

It is important to us that your child or youth receives the care they need. If you require an exception to any of our caregiver/visitor policies to ensure that your child/youth can access care, please contact a member of your care team or reach out to CHEO's Patient Experience team (experience@cheo.on.ca or 613-737-7600 ext. 3078).

Self-screen for illnesses including measles, cold and flu

To make sure we are always putting safety first and minimizing any chance of transmission of infections, please use our quick and confidential illness self-screening tool if you have symptoms or may have been exposed to viral illnesses like cold, COVID, flu or measles.

It will guide you on what to do next and help keep everyone at CHEO safe.

Illness self-screening form

Where to enter

All children, youth, parents/caregivers and visitors must enter through the Main Entrance unless you are seeking care from our Emergency Department. Other entrances are closed.

Frequently asked questions about coming to CHEO

What is the difference between a parent/caregiver and a visitor

Parent/caregiver: Someone who is over 12 years old and helps a child or youth with activities of daily living – e.g., parent, grandparent, older sibling, legal guardian, etc. A parent/caregiver can be designated by a patient. A parent/caregiver is never considered a visitor because they are a vital part of the care team.

Visitor: Someone who is part of a child's or youth’s family or support network (e.g., sibling, extended family member, friend, etc.) but not a designated parent or caregiver.

Will I be required to wear a face mask while at CHEO?

Visit our Infection Prevention and Control at CHEO page for up-to-date information:

Infection Prevention and Control at CHEO

Visit CHEO.on.ca/CaregiverPresence for the latest information on our parent, caregiver and visitor presence policy.

Finding your way to, and around, CHEO

For help finding your way to CHEO, and to your surgery or procedure, visit CHEO.on.ca/map

Visit our CHEO.on.ca/Amenities for details on family lounges, wi-fi access and more. For families travelling to CHEO from farther away, you can also find information on nearby hotels and other accommodations.

Preventing the spread of infection

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 your child or youth should have a bath or shower the night before (or the morning of) surgery.

Surgery delays or rescheduling

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!

Day of your surgery

Checklist: day of your surgery

Bring your packed bag with important items for you and your child/youth (find the full suggested packing list in the Day before surgery section above).

Make sure your child/youth has removed any makeup, nail polish, metal and plastic jewellery and piercings (from the tongue, nose, mouth, ear, belly button, eyebrows, etc.)

Visit our Maps and locations page to find latest information on construction, parking and finding your way around CHEO.

Arriving at the surgical day unit

Please arrive at the time provided. Arriving on time is very important because it will give everyone time to get ready for the surgery or procedure and an opportunity for you to ask questions to the surgical care team.

You will find the Surgical Day Unit on Level 3 of the main CHEO building. In the Surgical Day Unit, you will:

Meet and register with a patient service clerk
Provide your child or youth’s health card
Confirm information about your child or youth

Please give other families enough space to keep their conversations with our staff and medical staff private.

Please do not bring anything to eat or drink into the surgical waiting room as all children/ youth are fasting! If you bring food with you, keep it out of sight. You can eat after your child or youth goes in for surgery in our family waiting room or other areas of the hospital.

While in the surgical day unit

Your child will be weighed and have their vitals (heart rate, blood pressure, etc.) taken, to help assess their current level of health. The nurses may:

Ask about earlier experiences with hospital and surgery
Apply a special cream to the skin to numb the area for the IV, if needed
Give your child or youth hospital pajamas to wear
Show you to the playroom where they can play while waiting for surgery
Give your child or youth medication before the anesthesia. If we give them a sedative before surgery, they will rest in bed until surgery. The sedative quickly makes them drowsy and wobbly, so do not leave their side.

CHEO volunteers (under the direction of Child Life Services) help support play activities in the playroom. Toys and activities help pass the time and help children to feel more relaxed. Children often express their feelings best through play.

Different members of the care team will ask you questions before the surgery, and this is also an opportunity for you to ask questions and discuss the plan of care. This ensures that all members of the team have the same important information about the surgery of your child or youth. In many cases, the surgeon will use a marker to mark the site of the surgery.

Your child can bring a soft toy or blanket for comfort.

Parent and caregiver presence in the operating room

We understand that surgery can be a stressful experience for families. We offer a program for eligible patients to have one parent, or other support person, stay with them for the start of anesthesia, while their child is falling asleep.

This can only be offered for scheduled surgeries (no emergency surgeries) where the patient is at least one-year old, medically stable without complex medical needs and wants to have a parent or caregiver with them.

We may not be able to offer this program if we do not have a volunteer or Child Life specialist available. The anesthesiologist has the final decision about whether this program is right for your child or youth.

In the operating room, you will help the most when you:

Allow your child or youth to go to the OR on their own if they want
Hold their hand
Sing or talk to them in a soothing, quiet voice
Talking about something other than what is happening in the operating room can be helpful (i.e. favourite activity, vacation, or what you plan to do once home)
Don’t ask them too many questions as they are going to sleep

It is important you do not touch any of the equipment while in the operating room.

You are not allowed to take photos in the operating room.

As children and youth become sleepy from anesthesia, some fall asleep quickly and others enter a stage of excitement, during which they may move their arms or legs. Some may seem dizzy, with noisy breathing or coughing. You may notice their eyes roll back. All of this is very normal. Your child or youth may not remember this stage.

During surgery

Please wait in the Family Waiting Room on Level 3 (room 3108 B, just in front of the elevators).

This is where the surgeon will look for you when the surgery is over to discuss the surgery. Please make sure one parent or guardian stays in the hospital.

The waiting room is a good place to think about any questions you’d like to ask the surgeon when the surgery is over. A nurse or volunteer will look here for you to re-unite you with your child or youth.

You can eat, drink and use your cell phone in the waiting room.

If time allows during your child or youth’s surgery or procedure, you may visit:

Oasis Coffee Shop on Level 2, across from the Admitting Department
Cafeteria on Level 1
The Gift Shop on Level 2, near the front entrance

Visit our CHEO.on.ca/Amenities for latest details on hours of operation of each.

After surgery

Post Anesthetic Care Unit (PACU)

Your child or youth will go to the PACU to fully wake up after surgery.

Each patient reacts differently after anesthesia. Some sleep for a long time, while others are restless and cry as they wake up. Your child will not likely remember this. Your child or youth will stay in the PACU until they are awake, comfortable and stable. This usually takes 30 to 45 minutes, but sometimes it can take longer.

We may be able to bring you into the PACU to see your child or youth. Only one parent or family member can visit in the PACU at a time.

What to expect in the PACU

Your child or youth may have:

An IV
An oxygen mask
Monitors for heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels

A PACU nurse will make sure your child or youth is safe and comfortable. It is normal to have some pain after surgery. Each child or youth feels pain differently.

PACU nurses will:

Measure blood pressure, temperature, oxygen level and heartbeat regularly
Assess pain and give pain medication if needed
Use comfort measures to ease pain

Please speak with the nurse if you feel your child or youth is in pain.

You can help your child or youth in the PACU by:

Letting them sleep. Do not attempt to wake your child if not directed to do so by your nurse.
Sitting by their side.
Once your child is awake, comforting them by speaking in a quiet, soothing voice and holding their hand or touching them gently.
For younger children check with your nurse if you can hold or rock them. If your child uses a pacifier, ask the nurse if ok to use for comfort.

Please remember:

We may ask you to leave the PACU for a time in the event of a medical emergency.
Several patients and parents will be in the PACU at the same time. It is important to respect the privacy of others.
Do not take photos or videos of other children in the PACU.
Please prevent the spread of infections by staying away if you are sick, and washing your hands each time you enter or leave the PACU.
Food and drinks are not allowed in PACU.

Going home

If your child or youth has had day surgery, the nurse will tell you when it’s OK to go home. Your surgeon or nurse will go over any care instructions, prescriptions and follow-up appointments with you before you leave and you will have an opportunity to ask questions. Be sure to confirm who you should contact and how, if you have any questions or concerns after surgery.

If you don’t have a car, try to ask someone you know to drive you home or plan to take a taxi. If you cannot pay for a taxi please speak with your nurse. Taking public transit is not recommended after surgery. Keep a towel or small pail in the car, as some children throw up in the car on the way home.

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

Make sure you or another responsible adult stays with your child or youth for 24 hours after the surgery. It is important to watch for any problems that could happen after surgery. Don’t plan any activities for the rest of the day; let your child or youth rest.

Please visit our Hospitalization and surgery page to find additional resources to help you care for your child or youth at home after surgery.

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