Night of surgery

Activity

• Slowly increase the degree of the head of your child's bed. This will help with dizziness when he/she sits up for the first time.
• Have your child help with position changes by moving his/her arms and legs. This will make your child less stiff and sore.
• Your child's nurse will help him/her sit for the first time.
  • He/she will begin by sitting at the edge of the bed.
  • If your child can, the nurse will try to help him/her sit in a chair next to the bed.
  • Even if your child is sleepy or nauseous, it is important to start moving this evening.

Diet

• Chewing sugar free mint gum can help get your child eating & drinking again.
• Your child will be getting medicine for nausea in his/her IV.
• Start with ice chips and small sips of liquid. When that goes well, you can slowly advance to popsicles, Jell-O, crackers, toast and other bland foods.
• Constipation medicine will start tonight. Your child will get 1 dose of Colace (docusate).

Pain

• The Acute Pain Service has set up the PCA.
• We will give your child a combination of anti-inflammatory (typically Ketorolac) and analgesic (typically acetaminophen) in the IV.
• Valium (diazepam) is a muscle relaxer given in the IV.

Treatments

• Lab will come draw blood to check blood counts.
• Continue with IV fluids.
• Continue with tubes & drains such as the catheter & drain in the back.
• We will check bandages often.