Instructions for your child’s surgery Date of surgery: Time of surgery: Surgeon: Arrival time: If required, your surgeon will arrange a pre-surgical clinic visit. Let your surgeon know if your child: • Develops a cold, infection, or a fever over 38C in the week before surgery. • Has been exposed to chicken pox, measles, or mumps 21 days before surgery. What to bring: ✓ Your child’s medications in their original containers, including herbal or natural supplements, puffers, and over the counter drugs (e.g. Tylenol) take in the 2 weeks before surgery ✓ Completed forms given to your by your surgeon’s office ✓ Your child’s health card ✓ A favourite toy, blanket, or other items for distraction ✓ Your child’s slippers and diapers ✓ Food and something for you to do while your child is in surgery Food and fluids: You must follow these instructions or your child’s surgery may be cancelled. • Only water, apple juice or cranberry juice may be taken up to 3 hours before surgery. • Breast milk may be taken up to 5 hours before surgery. • Formula and cow’s milk may be taken up to 7 hours before surgery. • No solid food, including candies and gum, after midnight. 835 King St. W, Kitchener, ON (Kitchener-Waterloo Campus) Pre-surgical clinic: 519-749-4300 ext. 2123 Dates to remember Before surgery Instructions for your child’s surgery A parent or primary caregiver must stay with the child in hospital to provide support. Arrive two hours before the schedule surgery time: • Parking is available in the parking garage. You may pay for parking with cash or a credit card. • Enter the hospital through the main entrance (third floor) and report to patient registration on the second floor. Two caregivers (no siblings) may accompany your child on the day of surgery. Due to space limitations, one caregiver may accompany your child into the operating wait room and the post anesthetic care unit. If your child has special requirements, please speak to your doctor. Children having surgery are usually ready to leave 2 hours after surgery. Written care instructions for at home will be given to you before you leave. Prescriptions and other health care items are available at the Health Care Centre Pharmacy on the main floor of the hospital, just inside the main lobby. 835 King St. W, Kitchener, ON (Kitchener-Waterloo Campus) Pre-surgical clinic: 519-749-4300 ext. 2123 Day of surgery Leaving the hospital Children having their tonsils removed are required to stay about 6 hours after the operation. They should also reman within a 1-hour travel time from an emergency department for the first 2 weeks after surgery as post-operative complications such as bleeding can occur during this time.