Before Your Child's Surgery
Before Your Child's Surgery
If your child is anxious or unsure about his or her procedure, please call Child and Family Life at 734-232-5057. Child Life specialists can provide pre-surgery education, tours of the pre-surgery area and operating room, and talk about ways to help your child cope. If you feel you would benefit from support in preparing for your child’s procedure or if you are experiencing challenges while planning for his or her visit, please contact Social Work at 734-232-3177. Social workers are available to help address your concerns.
Learn more about how to help your child prepare for surgery with the helpful Pediatric Surgery Resources below.
Pre-Surgery Preparation
We will call or send you a portal message between 8 am and 2 pm one business day before surgery. This will be to inform you of your child’s check-in time and when they must stop eating and drinking. Check-in time will be at least one hour before surgery time, possibly as early as 6 am. If we miss you, call the Mott Pre-Procedure Center at 877-368-1316. If you reach our voicemail, please leave your name and phone number and we will return your call promptly. Please note that sometimes your surgery time may change after the pre-procedure phone call due to schedule additions, unforeseen emergencies, or cancellations.
Make sure a parent or legal guardian can consent (agree) to surgery in person or by telephone before surgery. Guardians must bring legal proof of guardianship.
Food & Drink
In general, children may eat or drink anything until midnight the night before surgery. After midnight, no gum, candy, breath mints, carbonated beverages, or milk are allowed. Only plain water, Pedialyte, and clear apple juice (not cider) are allowed. You will be given specific instructions by the pre-procedure nurse the day before your surgery. If you are a nursing mother, you may offer breast milk (with nothing added) up to four hours before surgery. Then, for all children, nothing by mouth.
Nothing means nothing at all! Children must have an empty stomach to receive anesthesia. Due to the risk of serious lung problems from vomiting or regurgitation, surgery will be cancelled or delayed if your child eats or drinks past the specified time.
Symptoms & Medication
The following symptoms or illness (current or within the past six weeks) should be reported to the clinic that scheduled your surgery/procedure.
- Croup, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, or pneumonia (all may postpone surgery for 4–6 weeks)
- Cold or flu symptoms
- Fever
- Wheezing
- Exposures (such as chicken pox)
Any signs of an infection (such as an ear infection, sinusitis, strep throat, or pink eye) should also be reported during your pre-surgery phone call. Occasionally, the need to postpone surgery cannot be determined until the day of surgery after your child is evaluated by our anesthesia team.
Due to the effect of certain medications on bleeding, children should not take aspirin, ibuprofen, or other non-steroidal medicines such as Advil, Aleve, Motrin, or Pediaprofen for a full two weeks before surgery unless you are told otherwise. Most children may take acetaminophen (Tylenol). If your child takes prescription and non-prescription medications, including any vitamins, herbs, or dietary supplements, please ask your care team if it is safe to take these on the day of surgery. If so, give them a small sip of water. Do not give medicine with pudding, applesauce, yogurt, or other foods.
Patient Preparation
To help prevent surgical infections, shower or bathe your child the evening before surgery with an antibacterial soap. The following should be removed before the child arrives: makeup, powders, lotion, deodorant, nail polish, contact lenses, tampons, earrings, and other jewelry. Please dress in clean clothes and wash any comfort items you plan to bring (favorite blanket, stuffed animal). Please bring any durable medical equipment, such as glucometer, CPAP, ventilator, or tracheostomy supplies.
