Pediatric Anesthesia

Please complete the anesthesia registration form with accurate health information about your child. The form will be provided in paper form or sent electronically. For existing conditions and/or major past surgeries, we generally require a written report from your child’s pediatrician.

An unclear health status must be clarified in advance for your child's safety.

If you wish to have a pre-surgery consultation with an anesthetist, please contact us:

• Main number Tel:  052 320 01 20
• Eulachklinik Tel:  052 320 01 20
• Limmatklinik Zurich  Tel:  044 448 30 30
• Klinik Hohmad Tel:  033 225 25 80
• Mail info-winterthur@narkose.ch

If the health questionnaire and/or submitted documents from your child’s pediatrician indicate the need for an anesthesia consultation, we will schedule one with you and your child.

Your child’s anesthetist will typically contact you no later than the day before the scheduled procedure to discuss the anesthesia method and answer any questions.

Please indicate your availability (time range, phone number) on the registration form. Contact is usually made between 1:00 PM and 8:00 PM. If you prefer a different time frame, please let us know.
 

Medications routinely used in adult anesthesia have been successfully used in children for many years, although some may not have specific approval for this age group due to cost considerations by manufacturers. Extensive worldwide experience shows these medications are safe for children. However, unknown risks cannot be entirely ruled out.

Adapt the conversation to your child’s age and explain the upcoming procedure. There are also illustrated children’s books on this topic.

Explain that after the surgery, there will be a bandage or a "plaster" at the operated site, or that the mouth may feel different after dental work. Remember to bring your child’s favorite toy, stuffed animal, pacifier, or blanket.

It is helpful to focus entirely on your child on the surgery day. We recommend arranging for a caregiver for siblings.

Regardless of the anesthesia type planned for your child, the following rules must be strictly followed:

On the day of surgery:

• Full meal: until 6 hours before surgery
• Small, light breakfast and milk: until 4 hours before surgery
• Clear liquids: until 1 hour before surgery

After these times, your child should not consume anything. 

Failing to follow these rules may cause vomiting, which could lead to a life-threatening lung injury if the vomit is inhaled. If your child does not adhere to the fasting times, inform us, as the anesthesia cannot be performed, and the procedure must be postponed.

• If your child regularly takes medication, your anesthetist will discuss whether these should be taken on the day of surgery.
• Bring all existing medical documents such as allergy cards and medical reports for your child if you have not already provided them.
• Dress your child in comfortable, practical, and loose-fitting clothing, and bring a change of clothes.
• We allow one parent to accompany the child to the operating room and stay until the child falls asleep. After the surgery, the child will be taken to the recovery area, where they can be reunited with a parent.

Your child should stay at home and be supervised to ensure they receive quick help in case of pain or discomfort.

For questions about the anesthesia performed or related issues like pain or nausea and vomiting, we are available at 052 320 01 20. 

Generally, you will receive a separate bill from narkose.ch for the anesthesia performed. Exceptions are made for different agreements with the operating person, an operations center, or a clinic. If you have any questions, we are happy to assist you.

We strive to meet your expectations and ensure you are completely satisfied with our services. Your feedback allows us to continuously improve and exceed your expectations. 

Feel free to contact us by phone, post, or email at one of the addresses listed.

Vital functions such as breathing, heart, and circulation are continuously monitored by the anesthesia team, making significant incidents and complications very rare with all modern procedures.

The risk primarily depends on the child’s age, pre-existing conditions, the type of surgery, and its duration. From the medical history, specific pre-existing conditions, rare hereditary diseases, and other complicating factors can be identified, and the anesthesia procedure, medications, and infrastructure can be appropriately adjusted.

Serious complications such as heart, circulatory, or respiratory failure, leading to organ damage or death, are very rare today and can generally be prevented by precise monitoring.

Common side effects

• Bruising at the injection site
• Sore throat and/or mild hoarseness due to intubation
• Irritation/injury to nasal or throat mucosa due to intubation
• Feeling cold, shivering
• Nausea and vomiting

Less common side effects

• Vomiting during anesthesia induction (risk of lung damage)
• Hypersensitivity or allergic reactions to medications or latex
• Skin and/or nerve damage due to positioning

Rare side effects and complications

• Dental damage due to intubation
• Impaired spontaneous breathing/ventilation during anesthesia due to pre-existing respiratory conditions
• Injury to the tonsils or nasal turbinates when inserting the tube during nasal intubation (especially in children)

After inducing anesthesia, a local anesthetic is injected into the spinal canal at the level of the sacrum. This provides pain relief for several hours.

Common side effects

• Possibility of inadequate effect due to incomplete distribution of the injected anesthetic
• Bruising at the injection site

Rare side effects and complications

• Infections, nerve injury, and damage
• Rarely, excitement (agitation), seizures, and cardiovascular failure can occur if the anesthetic is inadvertently injected into a blood vessel.
• Very rare allergic reaction to the injected anesthetic