Advice for parents/guardians

Advice for parents/guardians 

• Ask your child if there is anything else they are interested in about the examination.
• Ask your child if there is anything they are afraid of or worried about about the examination.
• Encourage your child to talk about their feelings.
• Emphasize to your child that the examination will not take long and that the doctor will do everything to ensure that the examination is not uncomfortable or painful. The child will have enough time to adjust and be cooperative, and if pain occurs, the examination will be interrupted.
• The parent/guardian provides the doctor with information about the child, but it is important that the child also actively participates in the conversation with the doctor, this is especially important when it comes to older school children and adolescents.
• If your child has any specific behavioral or developmental difficulties, let the doctor know about this so that he or she can adjust communication with the child during the examination.

Preparing your child for surgery 

On the day of the surgery, your child will arrive at the hospital, where they will be examined by medical staff, surgeons, and an anesthesiologist (the doctor who administers anesthesia).

Children with other health conditions may be invited for a preoperative assessment several weeks before the surgery date. This ensures that you and your child are fully informed about the planned procedure. During this assessment, the anesthesiologist will review your child's medical history, including specialist reports, blood tests, ECG, and chest X-rays.

If your child falls ill 

If your child has a cold, cough, or any other infectious illness (e.g., chickenpox), the surgery will need to be postponed to avoid complications. If your child is unwell or has recently been ill, please contact us before coming to the hospital.

Fasting guidelines 

Before surgery, your child must fast, meaning they should not eat or drink for 6 hours prior to the procedure. This is to ensure safety during general anesthesia. Specific instructions will be provided when scheduling the surgery, along with admission guidelines. Fasting times will be reconfirmed on the day of the surgery. It is crucial to follow these instructions; otherwise, the surgery may be delayed or even canceled.

Post-surgery care 

After the surgery, once your child returns to the ward, the nurse will regularly monitor their pulse, breathing, blood pressure, and the surgical site. Your child may feel drowsy following the procedure. Once fully awake, they will be allowed to drink fluids and later eat solid food. Pain relief (analgesics) will be administered as needed, typically paracetamol and/or ibuprofen.

When can my child go home? 

Your child will be able to go home once they are comfortable, have no significant pain, and can eat without difficulty. Most children undergoing same-day surgery procedures can go home on the day of the operation after a few hours of observation by medical staff.

What kind of care will my child need at home after surgery? 

Keep your child's wound clean and dry; two days after surgery, the child can take a short shower with pH-neutral soap, but should not bathe for seven days after surgery.

Your child should wear loose clothing for several days after surgery. Tight pants, for example, can rub against the wound and cause pain, redness, and bleeding. After surgery, certain physical activities (such as physical education in school, cycling, and swimming) may be uncomfortable, so they should be avoided for at least two weeks. In case of pain, you can give your child paracetamol and/or ibuprofen. Please follow the instructions on the medication bottle.

After surgery, mild redness and swelling may occur as part of the normal wound healing process. However, a wound infection can also develop.

Signs and symptoms of a wound infection include:

• The skin around the wound becomes more red or painful
• The skin around the wound is hot and swollen
• The wound has green or yellow discharge (pus)
• The child develops a fever and feels generally unwell

If any of these signs and/or symptoms occur, immediately visit your family doctor or take your child to the hospital.

Follow-up examination and monitoring 

Your child will come for a follow-up examination 7-14 days after surgery and will be invited for the next examination if necessary.

If you have any questions regarding your child's surgery or postoperative recovery, feel free to contact us, and you will be promptly informed about further instructions or receive answers to your questions.