A video from the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. If your child needs an anaesthetic, your anaesthetist will be with you every step of the way.
Key points about having an anaesthetic
- a general anaesthetic makes your child unconscious during their surgery or procedure
- an anaesthetist is a specialist doctor who gives your child anaesthetic medicine
- you can help prepare your child for anaesthetic so their experience is as positive as possible
- let your child tell you what they are expecting and answer their questions honestly
- avoid saying things that are not true, even if you are trying to reassure them
- if you have questions about the surgery, ask the surgeon or anaesthetist before the surgery
What is a general anaesthetic?
When your child has a general anaesthetic, the anaesthetist gives anaesthetic medicine. This will make your child unaware and unconscious during their surgery.
The anaesthetist can give the anaesthetic medicine:
- through a mask that your child breathes anaesthetic gas through or
- by an injection into a vein (IV)
Your child may also have medicine by mouth.
The anaesthetist stays with your child for the whole surgery. They will monitor your child during the surgery and wake them up afterwards.
Preparing your child for an anaesthetic
You play an important role in helping your child feel prepared so that their experience is as positive as possible.
Let your child tell you what they are expecting. Answer their questions honestly. Avoid saying things that are not true, even if you are trying to reassure them. If you have questions about the surgery, ask the surgeon or anaesthetist beforehand.
Children who need extra support
Let the healthcare team know if your child has additional needs. Let them know how your child communicates, what may make them stressed and what helps them feel calm.
Supporting teenagers
Include your teenager in discussions and decisions around their surgery where possible. Give them space to ask questions and privacy when they need it.
Helping your child prepare for a procedure
There are things you can do before, during and after a procedure to help your child cope. Find out more about how you can prepare and support your child.
Painful Procedures & Operations - How Can Parents Help?
What anaesthetists do
An anaesthetist is a specialist doctor who gives anaesthetic medicine. Their job is to make sure your child is asleep during the surgery and as comfortable as possible afterwards.
The anaesthetist stays with your child the whole time during the surgery. They monitor your child closely to keep them safe and asleep.
You and your child will meet the anaesthetist before the surgery. They will talk with you about the anaesthetic and how they will give it.
When to stop eating and drinking before surgery
Fasting guidelines can vary between hospitals. Check with your local hospital for your child’s fasting instructions.
Your child will need to stop eating and drinking before having a general anaesthetic. Different hospitals may have different fasting guidelines. Your local hospital will give you specific instructions.
It is important to follow the fasting instructions from your hospital. This helps reduce the risk of vomiting during the anaesthetic and keeps your child safe. If your child eats or drinks outside the instructions, the healthcare team may need to delay the surgery.
The information below is an example of fasting guidelines.
For babies younger than 6 months:
- no food for at least 6 hours before the surgery
- breastmilk or formula up to 4 hours before the surgery
- clear fluids up to 1 hour before the surgery
For most children:
- no food or milk for at least 6 hours before the surgery
- clear fluids are encouraged up to 1 hour before the surgery
Check with your local hospital for fasting instructions for your child.
Clear fluids are drinks you can see through when held up to the light. These include water, glucose drinks, cordials and clear juices. They do not include milk or drinks with bits in them, such as orange juice with pulp.
If your child takes regular medicine, give them their usual medicines unless a health professional tells you not to.
Getting ready for an anaesthetic
Before the anaesthetic, the anaesthetist will ask about:
- when your child last had something to eat or drink
- any recent coughs, colds or fevers
- any problems before or after previous anaesthetics
- any problems with anaesthetics in your family
- any allergies or unusual reactions to medicines
- any history of asthma, bronchitis or heart problems
- any other medical conditions
- any medicines your child is taking
- any loose teeth
Staying with your child before anaesthetic
For most planned surgeries, one parent can usually stay with their child while the anaesthetist starts the anaesthetic. This can help your child feel supported and reassured. Once your child is asleep, you will need to leave the operating theatre.
The medical team focuses on your child’s safety. Because of this, they may ask you to wait outside if:
- your child is very young
- your child is very unwell
- the surgery is urgent
The anaesthetist makes the final decision.
Do not take photos or videos as this can distract the healthcare team.
Recovery after an anaesthetic
After the surgery, your child will spend time in the recovery room. Specially trained staff care for tamariki (children) as they wake up from the anaesthetic.
Some tamariki can be restless or upset as they wake up from the anaesthetic. The recovery room staff will care for your child and give them medicine if needed.
The recovery room has monitors to check your child’s breathing, heart rate and oxygen levels. Some tamariki need extra oxygen for a short time.
The staff will make sure your child:
- recovers safely from the anaesthetic
- has enough pain relief
- gets medicine if they feel sick or vomit
- does not have too much bleeding from the surgery site
Pain management before, during and after an anaesthetic
The anaesthetist is an expert in pain management. They will try to make sure your child’s pain is well controlled.
Your child can have pain relief before, during, and after the surgery. The type and amount will depend on your child and the surgery.
The anaesthetist will talk to you about your child’s pain management.
Going home after an anaesthetic
Many tamariki go home on the same day as their surgery. If this applies to your child, they can usually go home once they have fully recovered from the anaesthetic.
Before you leave, the healthcare team will give you instructions about caring for your child at home. They will also let you know about any medicines or follow-up appointments your child needs.
If your child has major surgery, they may need to stay longer. The surgical team will decide how long your child needs to stay.
More information
You can download and print resources in English and te reo Māori from the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists & Faculty of Pain Medicine.
See the Starship website to find out more about what to expect before, during and after your child has an anaesthetic. Some information may be specific to Starship, so if you have any questions, check with your local healthcare team.
