Children’s Surgery FAQs
Deciding whether your child needs surgery is a deeply personal and difficult choice to make. There are many factors to consider, including your child’s condition, the chances of a complete cure and their comfort level with the procedure. Learn the answers to frequently asked questions about surgery for chlidren.
Pediatric surgeons generally specialize in all types of care affecting children of all ages, from newborns to adolescents. They also commonly have some level of expertise in the areas of neonatal, prenatal and pediatric oncology.
Knowing how to prepare your child for surgery depends largely on how old they are at the time of their operation. Understanding what kind of treatment your child needs and why they need it is key to be able to talk them through the whole process.
Anesthesia is given to children the same way it’s given to adults, through induction. This can be done by delivering anesthesia into the body with an IV or by inhaled medicine. If your child is afraid of needles, your Mercy doctor will usually begin the process of induction by delivering medicine through a mask.
Talk with your Mercy care team about your treatment plan following your child’s surgery. And make sure your child continues to take all medications as prescribed. You may also need to help your child care for his or her surgical wound to make sure it doesn’t become infected.
Mercy surgeons are trained in performing a variety of surgeries on children, including tonsil removal, insertion of ear tubes, undescended testes treatment, inguinal hernia treatment and more.
