This information explains what happens when you visit your child in the recovery room or the Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU) following their surgery. Most day surgery patients are discharged home from PACU after an hour.
What happens after your child's surgery
Following your child's surgery, the doctor will come to the surgical waiting room to talk to you about the procedure.
If your child is being discharged from PACU, the doctor will give you instructions on caring for your child at home. It is a good idea to write this information down. Also, do not hesitate to ask questions if you need the doctor to clarify.
It can take up to one hour before your child is awake and ready for your visit. The nurses in the PACU will let you know when you can visit your child by displaying the message on a computer screen called a 'Stat Com'. Alternatively, a nurse may phone you while you are in the waiting room.
At this time a volunteer will escort you to the PACU (recovery room).
What should you do before you visit your child in the PACU?
Before you visit your child, it is a good idea to:
- Look after yourself. We suggest that you have some food if you have not eaten. We highly recommend that you eat breakfast, even though your child cannot eat or drink before the procedure. A volunteer will tell you when it is OK to leave the waiting room so you will not miss seeing the doctor.
- Arrange a ride home for you and your child after being discharged from the PACU. We do not recommend taking public transit.
What happens in the PACU
The PACU can be very busy, noisy and crowded. Children come into the PACU directly from the Operating Room.
You will see monitors that check how your child is doing. This is routine for all patients inside the PACU. If an alarm sounds on your child's monitor, the nurse will come to check on your child. Your child's PACU nurse is happy to answer any questions you have about your child.
Please tell your nurse right away if you feel:
- uneasy from the sights and sounds in the PACU
- faint and need to leave
The PACU nurse will decide when your child is ready to go home or be transferred to the ward.
Please respect the privacy of others
Every child and family has the right to privacy. We ask that you only visit your child. It is important that you respect the privacy of the other children and their families in the room.
We cannot share information about other patients in the room.
How can you help comfort your child?
Your child may be grumpy and cry when they wake up from surgery. This is normal. The hospital staff wants you to take part in your child's care any way you can. This is part of what is called family-centred care. Talk to your nurse if you need help comforting your child.
Who may visit your child
- Only parents or guardians can visit the child in the PACU. Young children are not allowed to visit in the PACU.
- Two parents or guardians can visit the child at first, for a short time. Then your nurse will ask one of the parents to return to the surgical waiting room. This can be a good time to make phone calls or fill prescriptions.
- Because of the busy nature of the PACU and high volume of patients, we recommend only one parent at the bedside during your child's PACU stay. We do not encourage parents to switch at the bedside.
Can I use my cell phone or other wireless devices in the PACU?
When you visit your child in the PACU:
- Please put your cell phone on vibrate or turn the ringer off.
- If you need to make a phone call, please leave the room to help keep the noise level down.
- Cell phones need to be at least one metre (three feet) away from any medical device.
- Please turn your cell phone off right away if you suspect it is interfering with the equipment.
- Please be respectful of others when using cell phones in the clinical areas. Texting is an appropriate and quiet alternative.
Going home from the PACU
Most children having day care surgery and procedures go home within one hour after arriving in the PACU. When your child is ready, the nurse will give you your discharge instructions, which include information on:
- activities
- diet
- pain management
- follow-up appointments
Your nurse will review the medicines your child has already received and the medicines your child may need to take home. For prescriptions, please visit your local pharmacy. Please ask questions about any concerns you have about your child's care at home.
We recommend your child drink only clear fluids, such as apple juice, ginger ale, water or freezies, for the first two hours after being discharged from the PACU. Drinking clear fluids helps prevent vomiting, which is common after surgery.
At SickKids
For prescriptions, you can visit the Shoppers Drug Mart on the first floor of the hospital.