During the preoperative evaluation, the anesthesiologist will discuss the anesthesia andwhat you and your child can expect. Education is important because the more calm, informed and relaxed you are, the more relaxed your child will be, too. The anesthesiologist will also discuss the importance of making sure your child has nothing to eat or drink for a period of time before surgery. The actual beginning of the intraoperative anesthesia begins with induction of the patient. The best way to induce anesthesia is determined to a great extent by the child's age and the physical and psychological assessments.
Children often have their own fears about the anesthesia and surgical procedure.
A child's age and developmental level play a large role in what fears he has about receiving anesthesia. There are distinct age groups, each with its own anxieties. Here are some general comments about these groups. Keep in mind these are generalizations that vary from child to child. Can articulate his fears Is concerned about exposure of his body parts during surgery Is concerned with cutting and scarring of his body Is concerned with loss of control Is worried about postoperative pain and death Children are often highly sensitive to the fears and anxieties of their parents.