My son may need surgery, and a friend told me that anesthesia might cause problems with brain development. Is this something I should talk about with my son’s doctor? – Matthew Yes. Whenever surgery or a medical procedure is recommended for your child, talk with the doctor about any concerns …
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Gastrostomy Tube (G-Tube)
About G-Tubes Some kids have medical problems that prevent them from being able to take adequate nutrition by mouth. A gastrostomy tube (also called a G-tube) is a tube inserted through the abdomen that delivers nutrition directly to the stomach. It’s one of the ways doctors can make sure kids …
Laryngoscopy
About Laryngoscopy Laryngoscopy is a visual examination below the back of the throat, where the voice box (larynx) containing the vocal cords is located. It helps doctors identify the causes of voice and breathing problems, throat or ear pain, difficulty in swallowing, narrowing of the throat (strictures or stenosis), and …
Preparing Your Child for Anesthesia
Providing Support If your child needs to have an operation, you probably have plenty of questions, many of them about anesthesia. You may wonder if your child will feel pain during the operation, be aware of what’s going on, wake up in the middle of the surgery and be scared, …
Preparing Your Child for Surgery
Preparing Yourself Your child needs elective surgery and a date has been scheduled. Unlike emergency surgery, an elective procedure isn’t done as an immediate matter of life and death. Having an elective procedure gives you the time to prepare your child for the hospital and the surgery. Good preparation can help …
Retinopathy of Prematurity
About Retinopathy of Prematurity Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a disease that occurs in premature babies. It causes abnormal blood vessels to grow in the retina, the layer of nerve tissue in the eye that enables us to see. This growth can cause the retina to detach from the back …
Types of Anesthesia
If your child is having surgery or a procedure, it can help to understand how the various types of anesthesia make the experience more comfortable. Anesthesia is broken down into three main categories: general, regional, and local, all of which affect the nervous system in some way and can be …
What Is “Minimally Invasive” Surgery?
My daughter needs to undergo a surgical procedure, and the doctor has recommended “minimally invasive” surgery. What type of surgery is this? Will it be as safe — and effective — as standard surgery? – Julianne Minimally invasive surgery is becoming more and more common in hospitals. These procedures are …
What Is Elective Surgery?
I’ve heard the term “elective surgery,” but I’m not sure what it means. Is it just a procedure that you choose to get, like a nose job? – Heather The name “elective” might imply that this type of surgery is optional, but that’s not always the case. An elective procedure is …
What Is Informed Consent?
My son is having surgery in a few weeks. The nurses have given us pamphlets and educational materials to learn more about it, in preparation for something called “informed consent.” What does this mean? – Ned Informed consent is a legal term. It means that you are fully aware of …