Anesthesia for Your Child

If your child needs surgery, she probably will need anesthesia, too. Our pediatric anesthesiologist is here to keep her comfortable and safe, and also help her feel less anxious going into the operating room.

Lehigh Valley Health Network has the only pediatric anesthesiologist in the region that specializes in caring for your child before, during and after surgery. She meets with you to discuss your child’s anesthesia options and address your concerns. As a parent, it is important to ask questions, voice your concerns and prepare your child by telling her what to expect.

Many of the anesthesia options available for adults are available to children, though general (or full) anesthesia is usually required to take children to an unconscious state. We use different techniques to make it easier to deliver medicine to children.

To help children with separation anxiety, we often give them a small amount of a liquid sedative before parents leave their side. Then, we usually deliver the medicine through an inhalation mask, which is less frightening for the child than an intravenous needle. Our pediatric anesthesiologist keeps a close eye on your child throughout surgery, using the most advanced methods to monitor oxygen and carbon dioxide as she breathes.

When she comes out of surgery, supplemental oxygen is delivered until your child is fully awake in the recovery room. Here, families usually stay with their child until it’s time to go home.

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