Pre Operative


Prior to your child’s sedation appointment:

1. Please notify our office of any change in your child’s health and/or medical condition.  Fever, ear infection, nasal or chest congestion, coughing, wheezing, or recent head trauma could place your child at increased risk for complications.  Should your child become ill just prior to a sedation appointment, contact our office to see if it is necessary to postpone the sedation.

2. Tell us about any prescribed, over-the-counter, or herbal medications your child is taking.  Check with us to see if routine medications should be taken the day of the sedation. Also, report any allergies or reactions to medications that your child has experienced.

    3. Food and liquids must be restricted from MIDNIGHT the night before sedation appointment.  Fasting decreases the risk of vomiting and aspirating stomach contents into the lungs, a potentially life-threatening problem. 

 

4.  Dress your child in loose-fitting, comfortable clothing.  This will allow us to place monitors that evaluate your child’s response to the medications and help ensure your child’s safety.  These monitors may measure effects on your child’s breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.

   5. Try not to bring other children to this appointment so you can focus your attention on your child undergoing the sedation.

   6.  If you will be traveling home by car or if you must bring any other children with you to this appointment, it is preferable to have two adults accompany the patient home.  On the way home, one individual should be able to observe the child’s breathing without any distractions, especially if the patient falls asleep while in the car or safety seat.