5yr old DS has to have general anaesthetic—what can you tell me about it?

[parachutes]

Hi, 5yr old ds will be going in to hospital and having a general within the next few weeks.
Do we get to stay with him whilst it's being administered (does anyone know how it's done?) and are you usually there for when they come round?

Thanks, grateful for any advice.

my dd4 had an op in the summer....

at this hospital parent takes them into the anasthetic room until they are asleep...give them a kiss goodbye, wait in waiting room.

Once they start coming round you get called to recovery so you are there when they fully awake.

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Hi there,

My DD (10 months) had a GA last month. I was able to be with her while she was knocked out (they put a mask over her face) and then they called me once she had woken up in the recovery room.

I was dreading it, but it wasn't as bad as I had feared. And she was totally back to normal 1 hour after she came round! (She wasn't having major surgery, obviously.)

The doctors, nurses, and anaethetist were all lovely and explained exactly what would happen.

Good luck!

My dd was allowed home the same day as it was day surgery..but i had to take her to A&E in the evening as she wouldn't stop being sick and was de-hydrated. They put her on a drip and we stayed on the childrens ward until the next day...when she was back to her normal self.

Sometimes the anastetic does this. It's amazing how children bounce back.

Good luck.

DD has had two but she is a tad younger (first one at age 2). We stayed with her until she was asleep (about 10 seconds). We were also taken to her pretty much as soon as she woke (or so I believe). For DD they used an inhaler type contraption that they just put close to her face, she was to breathe normally (but in fact was crying as you would really being two years old and in a strange bright white sterlie room with funny equipment and a nervous mum and dad!) and that was that. She had a needle in her hand ready for extra anaesthetic if required from what I understand. Ot maybe they used the needle anyway, I'm not sure sorry. But all I do know is that it appears it was much more stressful for us than it was for her. When she had to have the operation again she was an absolute star. She knew the ropes this time and was cool as a cucumber. I wish you all the best.

Thanks everyone.
Ds has a horrible needles phobia (he's had to have a lot of injections over the last few years and the last lot really hurt him) so I know if they come near him with a needle it will all go swiftly downhill. Do you think it's worth having a chat well in advance to see if we can ensure they use a mask?

yes you can ask, but they will prob need to put a cannula in anyway for other drugs. My ds has had quite a few, most recently last week.

The staff are always fab, kids take it in their stride, but i choke with tears every time he goes to sleep, tho he doesn't see it thankfully. think i'd be used to it by now wouldn't you?

One thing that I was not prepared for when ds1 had a general is that he went under with his eyes still partly open (he was only 18 months so it's probably different when they are a bit older) which freaked me out somewhat. Otherwise, I went in as soon as he had come round and he was up and bouncing within an hour, no bad effects whatsoever.

Can he go for a look round? DS1 has had 3 and the most recent, aged 7, he went in for a chat with a nurse who explained stuff and took him for a look round the theatre. That helped loads as he had forgotten the previous ones and was apprehensive but was much happier after we had looked round.

My dd had a GA recently aged 5 and I was around while she went under and also when she came round again.

In her case they put a line in the day before the GA so that they just had to syringe the anaesthetic cream into that, so no actual needle on that day (she had no mask). She was very scared - crying a lot, but recovered quickly afterwards (in a couple of hours - watched a DVD in hosp).

Thanks everyone. I emailed the hospital who are going to let me know tomorrow exactly how they do it, at least we'll have an idea and can try to change anything that we know won't work!