Preparing for Surgery

I generally advise not to eat or drink for at after mid-night (12:00) the night before surgery.

Items Not to Bring to the Hospital:
- Unnecessary valuables or jewelry
- Medications from home, as hospital policy prohibits patients from using outside medications for safety reasons.
Items to Bring to the Hospital:
- A comprehensive list of your home medications, including dosages and frequencies.
- Your insurance card and a means to pay the hospital co-payment.
- Identification.
- Any relevant test results.
- If you've experienced any medical challenges, make sure I know about it before your child's upcoming surgery.

Your child will change into a hospital gown.
Their clothes will be provided to you or your family members.
An identification bracelet will be placed on your child's arm, which they wear until discharge.
You'll be asked to sign registration and consent forms for your surgical procedure and any additional tests, examinations, or consultations ordered by my, my team or my staff during your hospital stay.
All jewelry must be removed.
Preoperative tests that your child may undergo include:
- Blood may be drawn,
- A nurse will check your child's vital signs, including blood pressure, pulse, and temperature. Procedures may be postponed if you have a fever or other signs of illness, and/or
- You child might undergo x-rays, CT scans, or MRI studies either on the day of the surgery or in the days leading up to it.

Your child's anesthesiologist and an operating room registered nurse will welcome you and your family.
You'll have an opportunity to ask questions about the procedure and the recovery process.
An intravenous catheter may be placed in your child's arm to administer medication that will help you relax before being taken to the operating room.
Shaving of the surgical site, if necessary, will be done once you are asleep in the operative suite. The extent of hair removal depends on the type of procedure.

While you're undergoing surgery, you and your family members can wait in the Neurosurgical Waiting Room.
After the surgery is completed, a member of the surgical team will communicate with your family.
It's worth noting that neurosurgical procedures often have longer durations compared to other procedures, which can be challenging for young children requiring constant attention in the waiting room.

Mandana
Behbahani, MD