Parents whose children are scheduled for surgery at St. Joseph’s/Candler can expect a series of steps and guidelines designed to ensure safety and comfort throughout the process.
Pediatric surgeries at St. Joseph’s/Candler are performed at several locations, including Candler Hospital, the SJ/C Pooler Campus, and the Surgical Specialty Center. Procedures for patients aged 12 years and older take place at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Stefanie Reed, surgical services clinical practice coordinator for St. Joseph’s/Candler, outlined what parents should anticipate before, during, and after their child’s procedure.
Parents will receive a call from hospital staff the night before surgery with information about the scheduled time of the procedure. They will also be reminded about when their child should stop eating or drinking in accordance with national anesthesia guidelines. These timelines vary depending on the type of food or drink consumed and may differ based on individual cases.
Families are asked to have their child wear loose-fitting clothing and to bathe them the day before surgery. Entertainment items such as small electronics or books can be brought along while waiting but valuables should be left at home.
Arriving two hours prior to the scheduled surgery is recommended to allow time for registration. Parents should bring insurance information, immunization records, and be prepared to provide details about their child’s medical history. The hospital requests that parents remain in the facility throughout their child’s procedure and recovery period to maintain communication with staff.
Visitor numbers are limited; typically only two visitors per patient are allowed in recovery areas. If siblings must attend, an adult is required to stay with them in the waiting room while another parent accompanies the patient into recovery.
Before entering surgery, most pediatric patients receive a teddy bear from staff as a source of comfort. “We can use this bear to relate to the child and say, ‘The bear is getting fixed here too,’” Reed said.
Parents will not be present in the operating room itself but may accompany their child up until they enter surgery. Staff members keep parents updated during procedures, and one parent is permitted in recovery once the child is stable.
Most pediatric surgeries require anesthesia—either local or general—which is administered by an anesthesiologist who monitors patients throughout surgery.
Children may appear groggy or upset upon waking from anesthesia—common side effects following medication used during operations. “One unique thing about our pediatric surgeries is we have a dedicated one-on-one nurse in recovery with each pediatric patient to keep an extra close eye on your child,” Reed explained.
Upon discharge, parents receive instructions for monitoring their child’s condition at home along with any necessary prescriptions. They are advised to contact their doctor if symptoms such as high fever (over 101.5 degrees), uncontrolled pain, excessive bleeding, painful or absent urination, or breathing difficulties occur after returning home.
