Two GA's in a week

[SleepingStandingUp]

So DS has a tongue tie op booked for next Friday, under General Anaesthetic. Just had a letter for the Tuesday for a CT Scan under General Anaesthetic.

So I will spend tomorrow calling round trying to find out if they all know about the other GA but whilst I can't sleep, does any one know if its likely to cause a problem?

Anaesthetics are incredibly safe and for both a tongue tie and a GA the dose and duration of anaesthetic will be very very small. However, if at all possible it would be nice to try to do both procedures under the same anaesthetic - as a tongue tie snip is so quick and straightforward it is worth looking into whether the person doing it can come to the anaesthetic area in the scanner and get both done at once

I did think that but huge busy hospital, the surgeons seem to do routine surgery on specific days so wasn't sure how accommodating they could be.

I should add there's theoretically a minor additional issue which is DS is on permanent o2 ago actually needed anaesthetics to sign off for tongue tie and have a bed booked just in case, Bhutto not foot ct scan booked by cardio who are VERY aware of his issues.

Last ct scan was stone under magic medicine stop really surprised they're going for GA but maybe because it's a bigger scan?

The childrens anaesthetists don't take any risks at all, and I know that when necessary (burns dressing changes, radiotherapy) that they will give children a GA every day for many days. Also, some feel that they would rather have someone with other issues under a GA where they have secured their airway than sedate for a procedure esp where the child is on their back.

I did say to DH how many did he have in hospital within a short time but because he was critically ill it was different. Thanks, DH was just having a stress. Ds was on a vent for a week (abdo open) at 10 months and lost his speech when he was extubated so we're a little touchy now he's finally talking again (aged 3)

I would push for both procedures to be done under the same GA. Does he have a bed booked for the CT scan? Surely it's better for the hospital to combine the 2 procedures with them both being minor and use the same admission. I work in a busy children's hospital and we always try to combine procedures wherever possible as it is in the patients best interests. Get Pals involved if you need to. Good luck

Best of luck and remember that anaesthetists are probably, in my opinion, the most responsible Drs in the hospital esp no risks taken with regard to children.

As they will do pre-op assessments. pre-op sedation if needed, their sole responsibility in the operation is not the operation it is to maintain the airway, breathing, circulation (ABC), so they will also give any other meds as needed and will be with your child constantly, they will be bringing child around as needed and giving any pain relief as needed.

They will have assessed what they need to use and checked against previous medical problems and worked out against weight to ensure its adequate to anaesthetise but not overload the system as already other problems like cardiac which they will be fully briefed on having liaised with consultant colleagues if in any doubt.

It does make sense to get both done at the same time but as medics, they also won't overload your child with GA unless it's medically necessary.

So I wish all of you luck and a group hand hold or hug, it's up to you on that and remember the anaesthetist sole job is monitoring your child.

So update, finally got someone to speak to the surgeon who said he can't reschedule for Tuesday (kinda assumed hugged be too busy tbh) but that he'd advise rescheduling the scan. Which is fine, it's semi-diagnostic, not urgent. Hopefully we'll get a new appt before summer.

Slightly sad myto favourite anesthesiologist is in Saudi I think, but we know the wider team in general from past experience and he actually usually copes surprisingly well. I think given he usually sits on SATS of 85 on 1 litre nasal prongs, the extra o2 during ventilation gives him a boost

Thank you for the help and support xx