Preparing for Sedation

Before Your Visit

One of our specialty trained nurses will contact the patient/family about one week prior to appointment. During this call the nurse will review the appointment with the patient/family, supply an arrival time and place, review fasting (NPO) guidelines, and discuss questions about home medications to be taken prior to appointment. The pre-visit screening process for a pediatric sedation patient involves a thorough chart review, a conversation with the family, review of the patient information by a sedation provider and coordination with other services to schedule the procedure at an appropriate time. This process is typically managed by the nurse navigator. 

Day of Sedation

• Park in the parking garage and take elevators to ground floor
• Follow signs to Pediatric Imaging and check in at Pediatric Imaging Lobby
• Once checked in a patient technician will bring you and your child to one of our prep and recovery rooms. They will take your child’s height, weight and vital signs.
• The sedation nurse and provider will then come and introduce themselves. They will review your child’s medical information as well as perform a quick assessment of the child.  Our sedation provider will obtain consent prior to sedation. During this time the team will decide on what medications will be used to provide sedation if indicated.
• Our child life specialist will also introduce themselves to you and your child and based off the procedure and plan that will be set by the team, they will help prep your child for the procedure
• You will be provided with an approximate timeframe for your childs sedation depending on the procedure
• Your child may require an intravenous (IV) catheter for administration of medications. Modalities available to reduce pain, distress and discomfort prior to the IV placement will be offered.
• Recovery following your child’s procedure can vary, as each child is different, but can be minimally approximately 30 minutes to an hour.
• Once the procedure is complete, the sedation team will assess your child’s readiness to go home safely. We will provide you with instructions on what to expect and how to care for your child at home. You will also be provided with a number to call should you have any questions or concerns.