A look into the Pediatric OR

When a pediatric patient is about to have a surgery, they are first seen by our recovery room (RR) nurses for pre-operative work and checks. Our peds recovery nurses this year are Mairi Gordon, Lindy Brown and Meghan Cooper.

Mairi and Meghan with Mikael and his mom

Once the RR nurses have completed their checks and confirmed that the child has followed all preparatory measures such as fasting, a nurse or the surgeons will take the patient to the hallway outside the OR. Here, the surgeons will do a final check with the parents and then take the child directly into the operating room (OR).

In the OR, the anesthetist (sometimes accompanied by a respiratory therapist) will put a strawberry-smelling mask on the child's face to put them under for the surgery.

Anesthetist Dr. David Sommerfreund explains pediatric anesthesia to medical student Kristin O'Neill

Respiratory Therapist Lindsay Kruger finishes setting up the ventilation system for a pediatric patient prior to surgery

While the anesthetist and respiratory therapist administer the anesthetic, the surgeons scrub and get ready to start the surgery. At the end of most surgeries that CAMTA does, the child is casted to ensure proper recovery. When the surgery is over, the patient goes to the recovery room until he/she wakes up. Once the patient stabilizes they are taken up to the ward.

On the ward, patients are able to eat and drink again. The ward nurses carefully monitor intake to make sure the child doesn't vomit or have any adverse reactions. In addition, they administer pain medication to ensure that the child is comfortable when the anesthesia wears off. Family physicians also come by to physically assess the patients and keep their pain under control. Proper pain management ensures that the child can be mobile as soon as possible and begin physio and/or rehab.