Anesthesia and Your Child:
What to Expect
General anesthesia provides complete absence of pain and total loss of consciousness during
surgery. Your child will sleep through his or her procedure and wake up with no memory of what
has happened. Our anesthesia team is very skilled in safely administering anesthesia medications
to children of all ages. The anesthesiologist who participates in your child’s surgery will be present
throughout the procedure to monitor and ensure your child’s safety.
How anesthesia is given
Anesthesia may be administered in different ways. Sometimes it is given as a gas through a
breathing mask. This method allows the child to breathe anesthesia medicines until he or she falls
asleep. Other times, anesthesia is given directly into the bloodstream through an IV. Sometimes
both a breathing mask and IV are used.
Your anesthesiologist will talk with you about the best method for your child. The anesthesiologist
will try to contact you the evening before your child’s procedure. Please make sure we have the best
phone number to reach you at that time, and make a note in your calendar so you’ll be available
to talk with the anesthesiologist.
Food and drink before surgery
For your child’s safety, it is very important that you follow the feeding instructions below.
If they are not followed, we may need to postpone or cancel your child’s procedure.
For infants and toddlers taking breast milk or formula:
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Midnight: Do not give your infant or toddler any food
after midnight on the day of your child’s procedure.
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Six hours before coming to the hospital: Discontinue all
infant formula six hours before you bring your child to the hospital.
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Four hours before coming to the hospital: Because breast milk is different from formula,
your child may have breast milk until four hours before you bring him or her to the hospital.
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Two hours before coming to the hospital: See the section on clear liquids,
outlined on the other side of this page.
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For children and toddlers:
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Midnight: Do not give your child any food or non-clear liquids after midnight
on the day of his or her procedure. Examples of prohibited food and liquids are:
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Juice you cannot
clearly see through,
such as orange,
mango or guava
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Milk and milk products
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Chewing gum
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Hot and cold cereals
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Candy
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Pudding
Two hours before coming to the hospital: See the section on clear liquids, outlined below.
Clear liquids
No matter his or her age, your child is permitted to drink clear liquids until two hours before
you are scheduled to arrive at the hospital. Non-clear liquids and juices are those you cannot see
through, such as orange, mango and guava juice. They are considered “food” regardless of pulp
content, and must be discontinued when other “foods” are discontinued. Clear liquids that are
permitted until two hours before arrival at the hospital include:
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Clear apple juice
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Water
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Popsicles
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Gatorade
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Clear Jell-O
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Soda
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Juicy Juice
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Kool-Aid
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Pedialyte
If you have any questions about the feeding/drinking instructions, about anesthesia
or about your child’s upcoming procedure, please call us at 503-216-5437.
It is our privilege to care for you and your child.
OUR MISSION
As people of Providence,
we reveal God’s love for all,
especially the poor and vulnerable,
through our compassionate service.
OUR CORE VALUES
Respect, Compassion, Justice,
Excellence, Stewardship
www.providence.org/children
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