Toddler with possible object up nose - GA required

[Alioco]

Hi all,
My 2 year old has had a runny/sore nose for a few months (one nostril only).
Went to GP this morning thinking it was some kind of infection that needed anti-biotics. She had a look up her nose and thought she could see 'something grey' up there.
So, after a trip to A&E today, i'm told that we need to to take her in to the hospital for day surgery and put her under general anestetic to have a look and see if there's anything up there as they can't see anything just looking up her nose.
I'm scared about putting her under as she's so young, has anyone had any experience of this?

DS had this done just before his 2nd birthday. He's had a permanently runny nose (one nostril) for over a year. It wasn't nice watching him go under, but he was fine and wanted to play with the ward's toys as soon as he came around. They didn't find anything up his nose so took ended up taking his adenoids out, but he was still released home the same day.

Hi Alico I'm an anaesthetist and we do this all the time. Tbh pre-kids I used to think it was parents not keeping a close enough eye and have learnt better to my cost though with DS i pulled the peas out of his nose myself

It really only takes a little time and it's much better than having something uncomfortable up there. 2 really isn't that little for a GA compared to the little 600g preemies that need big surgeries. The anaesthetist will be v experienced and will be extremely careful. I know it's scary but try to be as confident about it as you can in front of your little one.

Good luck.

Thank you both for your replies, very reassuring.
What is the actual procedure? Is a camera inserted in the nostril?

My little girl is booked in for her procedure this Friday morning at 7.30am, does anyone know when she would need to fast from?
We should get a letter from the hospital before Friday informing us (i hope) but I just thought someone might have an idea?
Also, does anyone know what the recovery time is afterwards? How long does it take for them to come round?

Thanks in advance

it happened to us when dd was 20 months. Only real difference was that I saw her put the raisin up . 2 hours later she was running around the children's Ward and they couldn't discharge her fast enough. .....

Fast from midnight for a 7.30 admission, it is 8 h for food. Up until 5 am she can have sips of clear fluid, NO milk!!!!!

The reason you (generally speaking) don't eat before surgery is this:
The stomach's acidity has a higher ph than your lungs. if it reaches the lungs while you're asleep it just burns them. Sometimes it just regurgitates, you're lying down, chances are your vomit will end up in your lungs. Don't do it. Just fast for 8 h, it's a small price to pay.

Hi OP. Here's a leaflet from the royal college of anaesthetists explaining general anaesthesia for children.

It's actually 6 hours for food/milk/ sweets, 4 hours for breast milk, 2 hours for water or squash (not juice).

Though you've been asked to come in at 0730 it's just the admission time. Usually all children on the morning list will be asked to come in at that time and then some will have to wait. It's unusual for a list of this sort to start before 0830-9 and you may have to wait til mid morning or later, so be prepared with a few toys etc. If she uses a dummy then do take one, also any lovey she has.

It's usually done by looking up the nose with a similar shaped thing to how the gp looks in ears, just rather longer! Then they use tweezer like things to pull out the offending article. Usually takes 5-10 mins, then 10-20 mins in recovery before you're called back, then 2 hours ish on the ward before home. Kids are usually running around within 1-2 hours of return to the ward.

Try as much as you can to show how exciting this all is and how she gets to have a special sleep to make her nose better. I wouldn't mention needles at her age, we call it a button or a butterfly.

Hope that's helpful.

All the best for Friday. If you have questions and the letter doesn't arrive then just phone the ward and ask. They're there to help.

Both my DSs had GA's aged 4 and 3 (for a medical investigation). It was stressful, but all went fine. There was a long wait and they were hungry, so lots and lots of distraction toys/books. For one of them, there was a toy 'medical kit' in the hospital playroom which was fantastic - I would consider buying one if you can (it looked like ELC or similar - had loads and loads of plastic medical equipment which DC loved).

They sat on my lap, being distracted while they had the injection to make them sleepy. The worst moment was when they went limp on my lap. Staff then quickly moved them to the bed and told me to give them a kiss before I was ushered out.

Very important you are calm about it all so you don't upset the DC.

Have lots of snacks for afterwards when they wake up starving and grumpy.

Just wanted to say thank you very much Theyaremysunshine for the leaflet and also nomdemere and tobysmum.
All set for tomorrow.

good luck OP, let us know how it went.

All the best for the morning OP. Will all be fine, just pretend to be calm and collected!

How did it go OP?

Hi all, thanks for all your replies. Friday morning went a lot better than expected. Got in to the hospital for 7.30am, dd was taken in at 8.30am for her procedure after chatting to a lovely nurse about what would happen.
She had a mask put over her nose and mouth in the theatre while she was on my lap and was out in a few seconds.
After a few tears from mummy I left them to it and was called into the recovery room after only about 40 mins, so quick!
Surgeon told me she had 'a ball of putrid paper' shoved right up her nose! The little rascal.
Got into recovery where she was crying and drowsy, after some hugs and some toast and jam and a bowl of strawberry ice cream from the nurse, she was back to her old self.
Were discharged about midday, so happy that they got rid of it for her, must have been uncomfortable even though she never complained about it.
Hope we don't have any more hospital visits for a while!

Awww, what a little trouper!

Glad she's ok. I wondered if it was a pea! Putrid paper, lovely!