What to Expect the Day of Surgery

Know Where you are Going

Please make sure you know where your child's procedure is being performed. The details below are primarily for procedures at the Main Campus. Some surgeries may also take place at one of our multiple locations, so be sure you know where you need to be. 

Getting to the Hospital

For maps and driving directions visit the Getting Here section of this site or call our driving directions line at (720) 777-6000.
Plan to park in the South Parking Garage for family and visitors south of the main entrance.

Arriving at the Hospital

If you visited the Pre-Admission Clinic, you should arrive one hour before your scheduled appointment. If you did not have a pre-admission appointment, you will need to arrive at the hospital two hours before your scheduled operation. This helps ensure there is enough time to register, complete paperwork, ask questions and prepare for the surgery. Your surgeon’s office will confirm your scheduled surgery time with you.

First stop: Admissions/Patient Access Area

Once you have arrived at the hospital, you will check in at the Welcome Desk on the main level to be put into the registration queue. You will then be called to the desk to complete the admission and registration process. After registration is complete, our staff will direct or escort you to the Second Stop: The Surgery Reception Area.

Second Stop: The Surgery Reception Area

A representative from our patient access team will direct you to one of three surgical areas: Our Procedure Center on the first floor, the Ponzio Surgery Center on the second floor or our Heart Institute on the third floor. A staff member from the area will guide you through next steps.

Settling in and waiting

• First, you will complete any necessary paperwork and answer questions about your child’s health history.
• Next, you will meet your child’s nurse, who will listen to your child’s heart, check his or her temperature and do any other necessary tests. Some children will need blood drawn or to provide a urine sample at this time.
• You will also meet with your child’s surgeon, anesthesiologist and operating room nurse.
• You will have an opportunity to ask questions about the operation and anesthesia. You may want to discuss your child’s recovery, pain care or appearance after surgery.
• Your child’s surgeon will confirm with you the location of the operation on your child’s body and may mark this site on your child’s skin with a special marker.

What Parents Can Expect

There are two schedules on the day of your child's operation - one for you and one for your child. Again, knowing exactly what to expect will help you feel more prepared, comfortable and reassured when the time comes.

Going into surgery

Give your child a hug and remind him or her that you will be there as soon as he or she wakes up. If you and your doctor have decided you should be present during anesthesia induction, you will put on protective suiting and follow the nurse into the operating room. Once your child is in a deep sleep, you’ll head to the waiting area.

The waiting area

This area is designed to be a comfortable, nearby place for you to wait during your child’s operation. If you need to leave the area, please leave your cell phone number with the volunteer or take a pager so we can reach you. In the waiting area, you will find:

• A volunteer to guide you through the process
• A free long-distance phone for your use
• A TV and play area for children
• A place where cell phones may be used
• Wireless internet access

In the recovery room

• When your child begins to wake up, the nurse will bring you to his or her bedside so you may sit with your child.
• Children waking up from anesthesia may cry and seem confused. This is a common reaction.
• Your child may also be breathing some extra oxygen—this is normal. If you have questions or concerns, the recovery room nurses will help.
• All children need to be held and touched by those they love. Ask for help from the nursing staff if you would like to hold your child but are not sure how to go about it because of equipment or bandages.
• Depending on your child’s procedure, you may either help them get dressed for their trip home or you will go with them to their hospital room for recovery.

After your child’s operation

• Ask for pain relief when your child’s pain first begins.
• Help your doctor and nurse understand how your child reacts to pain.
• Tell your doctor or nurse if the pain is not relieved.
• Tell your doctor or nurse if you have any worries about your child taking pain medication.

What Your Child Can Expect

It’s important to let your child know what to expect—especially if you do not attend a pre-surgery tour. Go over the information below with your child so he or she will feel calmer and more relaxed the day of the operation.

Getting ready

• You’ll meet your nurse and put on a name bracelet.
• You’ll put on hospital clothes and socks and put your own clothes in a bag or locker for later.
• You get to keep a stuffed animal or favorite item from home with you.
• The nurse will check your temperature, blood pressure and pulse.
• If a blood test is needed, hold still and squeeze a parent’s hand, blow bubbles or count. Doctors look at blood so they know you are healthy inside. Tests go faster with your help.
• You may have to pee in a cup, if a urine test is needed.
• Wait in the waiting area or playroom before the operation. Playrooms have lots of video games, books and toys. You may also bring activities from home to do while you wait.
• Meet your sleep doctor and talk to the doctor who will do your operation.
• Ask any questions you want to ask.
• The doctor who will do your operation will mark on your skin with a marker in the spot where you will have the operation.
• Pick a flavor of sleeping air.
• Swallow medicine, if needed.

Going into surgery

• Say “see you soon” to parents, and go with the nurse into the operating room. Or your parents might be able to walk into the operating room with you.
• It will be time for you to lie on the bed as if you were going to sleep.
• You will be in a deep sleep during your operation. You will not feel, hear or see anything. One second you are in a deep sleep, and the next you are awake. It feels that fast.

In the recovery room

• You will begin to wake up from your deep sleep. A nurse will be by your side.
• Your loved one will come back to be with you soon after you wake up.
• If you feel sore, tell the nurse or your parents. They can give you medicine that will help.
• Your tummy may feel a little upset too. When it feels better, the nurse will bring you juice or a soft drink.