When transported from the Post Anesthesia Care Unit to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, the child will have a catheter in the bladder and an intravenous line. However, the legs will be less stiff than before surgery. While the child is in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, morphine or fentanyl will be given for sedation and relief of pain, and Valium will be given for muscle spasms.
Most children remain sleepy during the first day.
Children will feel more awake on the second or third days and will begin taking fluids by mouth. Your child's face may appear swollen due to positioning during surgery, but the swelling will disappear in 24-48 hours. At this point, Tylenol with codeine will be given as needed. Occasionally, children experience a headache several days after surgery. This can be medicated with an appropriate dose of Tylenol.