Pre-Op Q&A
Children are curious by nature and may have a great deal of questions about their upcoming hospital visit for surgery. Below is a list of commonly asked questions about surgical procedures along with kid-friendly answers to help your child become more comfortable with what to expect during his or her procedure. If you have additional questions, please contact your physician or call Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital at (954) 987-2000.
What is the operating room?
The operating room, sometimes called the OR, is where you go if you need an operation. Having an operation is also called having surgery.
What is an operation?
When someone has an operation, a special doctor called a surgeon works on or inside the body to fix something.
Who will I meet at the hospital?
When you arrive at the hospital, someone at the reception desk will take your name, address, phone number and your parents' names.
You will meet a nurse, who will ask you and your parents all about your health — what is wrong, how you feel and whether you're allergic to anything. He or she may check your pulse, take your temperature and make sure you are ready for surgery.
Before the surgery, you will meet the anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist. This person is specially trained to help you sleep during surgery so you won't feel anything during the operation. They will also help you wake up after the surgery.
You'll also see the surgeon right before you fall asleep. The surgeon is the doctor who will perform your operation.
Why do all those people wear masks?
To help keep the OR free of germs, doctors, nurses and other medical staff wear caps over their hair and masks over their mouths and noses. They even wear booties over their shoes!
What happens the day of surgery?
If you will be going to sleep for the surgery, you probably won't be able to eat breakfast. That's because food — or even water — can upset your stomach when you are given anesthesia. You'll be told ahead of time what you can and can't eat or drink.
You'll be taken to the OR and given anesthesia to make sure that you are asleep for the surgery. That way the surgeon will be able to fix you without hurting you.
After the surgery, you'll be moved to a recovery room. This is the room where you will wake up.
A nurse will be there to see how you're doing as you wake up. Once you're fully awake, you'll either be moved to a hospital room (if you're staying overnight) or back to the Pediatric Ambulatory Surgery Unit, where you can wait with your family while the doctors or nurses see how you're doing before you go home.
Where will my family be?
Your family can go with you to stay in the Pediatric OR Holding Area — a waiting room right next to the operating room. When you are taken in the OR, don't worry — your family will be right outside the door. Your family will see you in the recovery room when you wake up after your surgery. They can also be with you if you are moved into a hospital room if you are staying overnight, or a waiting area if you are going home that day.
