Visiting your child in the Post-Anesthetic Care Unit (PACU)

After surgery, your child will be taken to the Post-Anesthetic Care Unit (PACU) where they will begin to wake up from their surgery and be monitored by the health-care team. PACU is a highly specialized area where patients who have received general anesthesia are closely monitored by a team of highly specialized nurses. Once your child begins to wake up, you will be able to visit them.

What happens after your child's surgery 

• Following your child's surgery, the doctor will come to the surgical waiting room to talk to you about the surgery and follow up care. 
• It may take time before your child is ready for your visit.  
• When your child is ready, you will be taken to the PACU. 
• Some children go home from PACU, you will be given printed instructions for follow up care. 
• Some children have to stay overnight for additional observation and treatment. For more information, visit: Preparing for overnight stay at a hospital.  
• Do not hesitate to ask questions if you need clarification. 

Helpful tips before you visit your child in the PACU 

Before you visit your child, it is a good idea to: 

• Look after yourself. Have some food. You should eat breakfast before coming to the hospital, even though your child cannot eat or drink before the surgery. 
• Arrange a ride home for you and your child after being discharged from the PACU. We do not recommend taking public transit as your child will be sleepy and may be unsteady on their feet when discharged.  
• Please see the article How to prepare as a caregiver for your child’s surgery. 

What happens in the PACU? 

• The PACU can be very busy, noisy and crowded. Children come into the PACU directly from the operating room.  
• PACU is the space where your child will wake up from surgery, any pain will be managed and they will be encouraged to drink something. 
• You will see monitors attached to your child in PACU that check how they are doing. This is routine for all patients inside the PACU. A nurse will be continuously monitoring your child. 
• The PACU nurse will determine when it is safe for your child to go home or be transferred to the inpatient unit. 

Please respect the privacy of others 

It is important that you respect the privacy of the other children and their families in the PACU, please remain at your child’s bedside.  

• Hospital staff cannot share information about other patients in the room.  
• Please do not take any pictures or videos while in the PACU. 
• Video and phone calls are not permitted in the PACU 

How can you help comfort your child? 

• Your child may feel upset or dizzy when they wake up from surgery. This is a normal part of the recovery process.  
• The hospital staff want you to take part in your child's care in any way you can. This is part of what is called family-centred care. Please talk to your nurse if you need help comforting your child. 

Who may visit your child 

• Because of the busy nature of the PACU, only one caregiver can visit the child in the PACU. Young children or siblings are not allowed to visit in the PACU. 

Can I use my cell phone or other wireless devices in the PACU? 

When you visit your child in the PACU: 

• Please put your cell phone on vibrate or turn the ringer off. 
• If you need to make a phone or video call, please leave the room to help keep the noise level down. 

Going home from the PACU 

Most children having day surgery go home soon after arriving in the PACU. When your child is ready, the nurse will give you your discharge instructions, which include information on: 

• activities 
• diet 
• pain management 
• follow-up appointments 
• medications that your child received 
• prescriptions given by your doctor 

 Please share any questions or concerns you have about caring for your child at home. If you require a letter for your child’s school, please make sure to ask.  

We recommend that your child should start drinking clear fluids first. Offer water, apple juice, ginger ale or freezies. Infants can start feeding as soon as they wake up. Your nurse will let you know when your child can start eating solids after the surgery. It is always good to have soup or a light meal ready for when you get home.