Having surgery or a procedure at CHOC Hospital

This short video will describe what you can expect during your child’s surgery or procedure at CHOC Hospital.

After the admission process on the day of the procedure, take the elevators to the Tidwell Procedure Center on the third floor of the Bill Holmes Tower.

After checking in at the front desk, you’ll wait in our sitting area until an admitting representative calls you in for registration. The sitting area has a play room, coloring books and other activities.

After registration, you will be escorted to a private room in the pre-operative area with toys and a TV. Two parents or guardians can be in the room at a time.

A clinical associate will take your child’s height, weight and vital signs including blood pressure, temperature and oxygen levels. Female patients age 10 and older will provide a urine sample.

Next, you can help your child put on a gown. You’ll receive a bag to hold their belongings during the procedure.

A nurse will ask questions about your child’s medical history and when your child last ate or drank. The nurse can tell you how long the surgery will take and answer any questions.

The anesthesiologist, surgeon and operating room nurse will come talk to you and your child about the surgery and have you sign consent forms.

The operating room nurse will give you time to hug and kiss your child and answer any other questions before wheeling your child to an operating room.

You’ll be escorted to the sitting area. You’ll receive a number so you can track your child’s progress on the monitor. For procedures lasting more than two hours, a member of the nursing team will update you on the progress of your child’s surgery.

One parent or guardian should remain in the sitting area at all times, while other family members take a break or get food and drinks.

When surgery is finished, the surgeon will come talk with you.

Your child will be taken to the Recovery Room and you will be called back to join them shortly.

Your child will be connected to monitoring devices, an IV and possibly oxygen. They may be drowsy, calm or confused, which can be a response to anesthesia.

The Recovery Room nurse will update you on your child’s status and medications and discuss discharge instructions.

If your child will stay overnight in the hospital, a member from the transport team will move them to their room once it’s available.