Activities after the operation
Your child may feel dizzy, sleepy and unsteady for up to 6 hours after an anesthetic or sedation. Your child should do quiet activities today, such as watch videos or TV, or listen to music.
Do not let your child do activities that your child needs to have good balance for. For example, do not let your child play hockey or soccer, roller blade, ride a bike or swim.
Supervise your child's activities today. Tomorrow your child can go back to their normal activities, unless you have been given other instructions.
Eating and drinking after the operation
- Allow your child to choose when to start drinking. Your child should drink clear fluids such as water, juice, broth, popsicles, or ginger ale.
- For infants and toddlers, start by giving your child clear fluids such as oral rehydration solution (Pedialyte) or water. If your child is not interested, you can try giving your child breast milk and/or formula.
- Your child should drink well today to make sure they're well hydrated.
- After drinking clear fluids, if your child does not vomit, they can start to eat a small meal or resume drinking breastmilk or formula.
- Some foods can upset your child's stomach or make them throw up after an anaesthetic or sedation. Consider avoiding burgers, fries, or food made with milk, such as cheese, yogurt, or ice cream as a first meal.
- Dimenhydrinate (e.g., Gravol) is a medication that can be given to help if your child is experiencing nausea or vomiting. Give your child small amounts of oral rehydration solution (e.g., Pedialyte), water, breast milk or diluted formula often for an upset stomach. Slowly advance back to their regular diet when your child feels better.
- If your child is not drinking, not peeing, and/or is throwing up for longer than 6 hours, call their health-care provider or go to the nearest emergency department.
What to do for your child's pain
Treating your child's pain will help them heal faster.
If your child has pain, give them the medication that was recommended for pain. Repositioning, gentle movement and distraction can also help relieve pain.
Anesthetic in the lower back
Your child may have had an anesthetic in the lower back, called an epidural or caudal block.
If your child has received an epidural or caudal block, they may have leg weakness and numbness that should go away after a few hours. To prevent injury, keep sharp, hot and cold objects away from your child until normal sensation returns. You will need to watch your child closely and assist them when walking or crawling to prevent falls. If your child does not pee within 10 hours after their surgery, please take your child to the nearest emergency department.
What to do for your child's fever
Your child may develop a mild fever after an anaesthetic or surgery. The fever will go away within a day or so. If your child has a fever, give them plenty of fluids and the medicine recommended for fever. Seek immediate medical attention if the fever persists and/or is accompanied by any of the following:
- A fast heart rate
- Fast breathing
- Cool or clammy skin
- Excessive sleepiness
- Confusion (not knowing where they are)
- Decrease in urination
- Uncontrolled pain
- Redness, swelling and/or discharge from the surgical site
- Or your child looks extremely unwell
Who to call if you have any concerns
If you have any concerns regarding your child's health, contact your child's health-care provider right away. Do not wait until your next scheduled appointment.
Your PACU nurse and surgeon will also provide you with post-op care instructions called the Discharge Summary as well as contact details about who to call if you have questions.
