Welcome to Children's Hospital of Alabama One Day Surgery! The following information will help parents and children prepare for your One Day Surgery Adventures. At the Hospital a Child Life Specialist will be available to further explain what will happen, and why, in terms everyone will understand.

Phone: 205-939-9596, Location: 2^nd Floor Children's Hospital, ACC

Interested in learning more about our surgical services then please view our child-friendly surgical services virtual tour- "Simon and Scarlett's Surgical Safari"

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Interested in learning more about our surgical services here within the health system then please view our surgical services video- "Carry Your Candle"

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Helpful Tips for Patients and Families

• At midnight the day before surgery, stop giving your child solid foods. Your child may have clear liquids until two hours before his/her arrival time. Examples of clear liquids include, but are not limited to, water, electrolyte solutions, apple juice, carbonated soft drinks, or pop. Please contact the Anesthesia Pre-Admit Screening
  Service (APASS) Department for further questions regarding eating and drinking before procedure. (205.939.6235)
• Generally you are asked to arrive two hours before your estimated surgery time. Please contact your surgeon's office if you have questions regarding your child's arrival time.
• No acrylic/false nails, nail polish, piercing, jewelry, or underwear can be worn to the Operating Room (OR). Disposable underwear is available upon request.
• Bring your child's comfort item(s). Examples of comfort items include: blanket, stuffed animal, doll, and/or pacifier.
  

What to expect BEFORE SURGERY

• Your child will receive an identification bracelet and a hospital gown.
• Hospital staff will enter your child's room to ask many of the same questions you have answered. The team is repeating these questions to ensure all information in your child's medical record is correct.
  
• A member of the anesthesia team will see you and your child to explain the anesthesia plan, answer questions and examine your child.
• The Child Life Specialist (CLS) will give your child the option to view a Pre-Op book and surgery teaching kit in order to minimize patient anxiety and eliminate misconceptions.The CLS can also accompany your child to the OR.
• After your child goes into surgery, the One Day Surgery staff will show you where to wait. You may want to ask how you will be updated on your child's progress.

What to expect AFTER SURGERY

• Most children are awakened before leaving the Operating Room. Therefore, when you talk with your surgeon, your child may have not gone to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) yet.
  PACU is also known as The Recovery Room.
  
• Immediately after surgery, children are moved from the OR to Recovery.
• No two children wake from anesthesia the same, so recovery times vary.
• Siblings and other family members are not allowed to visit in Recovery.
• Following Recovery, children are transported back to One Day Surgery or to a room.
• Prior to discharge, your child's nurse will provide home care instructions. Most children need to be awake, alert and drinking fluids before going home.