_Children

Knowledge about the patient's state of health

It is important for the anaesthetist to have as precise information as possible about the state of health of the child. The registration form with its questionnaire is used for this purpose, and depending on the state of health an assessment by the family doctor may also be necessary.

Registration form

Fill out the registration form which you receive from the surgeon, your family doctor or us in full. In case of queries our secretary will be happy to provide you with information or put you in touch with one of our anaesthetists. We will be pleased to help you if you have any questions.

Information sheet

Read our information sheet and follow the recommendations in it, in particular the sobriety rules. We will be pleased to help if you have any questions.

Information about anaesthesia

General anaesthesia is the most common process for operations on children. Only for selected operations and very cooperative (often older) children can a local anaesthestic be used.

General anaesthesia is a condition similar to deep sleep, which is normally applied to the child by administration of an anaesthetic mixture via a face mask. This face mask is transparent and soft and is usually well tolerated. With calm children the anaesthetic gas is administered via this mask, until the child falls asleep. This is normally the case after 2–3 minutes. Anxious children are also allowed to fall asleep in this manner on their parent's lap. Only once the child has entered deep sleep and the perception of pain and consciousness have been eliminated, is an infusion attached to the arm or back of the hand. It goes without saying that your son/daughter can also be put to sleep by injecting an anaesthetic agent into the arm veins. In order to do this the infusion is applied while the child is awake and the fast-acting anaesthetic agent is then injected through the existing line.

The anaesthesia is continued either by applying a special anaesthetic gas via the airway or by administering an anaesthetic agent which is continually injected with the infusion. Normally breathing has to be supported (artificial respiration), although the child does not feel it. This occurs by use of a face mask, with a so-called laryngeal mask or with a breathing tube (intubation).

At the end of the operation the supply of the anaesthetic agent is interrupted and normally the child awakes within a few minutes. An observation period then follows in a separate room.