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Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) / Recovery Room
- After surgery, your child will be taken to the recovery room, also referred to as the PACU, where they will wake up from anesthesia. Our recovery room has a combination of private rooms and an open bays separated by curtains.
- Your child will have their own nurse that will provide the best and safest individualized care for your child.
- The goal of the recovery room is to make sure your child wakes up safely and that their pain is controlled.
- The best thing after surgery is to allow your child to rest for at least 20-30 minutes and wake up slowly from anesthesia. This allows for your child's body to process the medications they received during their procedure. Some children stay for as little as 20 minutes and others remain in the recovery room for several hours.
- We will reunite you with your child as soon as they are awake and doing well. The recovery room nurse will bring your child back to the day surgery room or inpatient room in the hospital. If your child is awake and asking for you, parents will be asked to join their child in the recovery room.
- If your child is going to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after surgery, they will go directly to their ICU room. You will be reunited with your child when they are settled in their room.
Wisconsin's highest-rated pediatric surgical center
Recognized by the American College of Surgeons, our Level I verification represents the highest level of recognition for hospitals that perform complex surgical procedures in newborns and children.