Pediatric Scoliosis - Day of Surgery

Patient Education

Apr 11, 2023

Morning of surgery

It is okay to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth out. Do not swallow the water or chew gum.

Check in.
A nurse will take your vital signs (temperature, pulse, breathing rate and blood pressure).
You will get into a hospital gown.
The nurses will help you onto a special bed.
You will go to the EEG lab. They will put the special monitoring wires on your head. Sometimes they put these wires on in the operating room.

Your family can wait here for you while you are in surgery. Your doctors will call them during surgery to let them know how you are doing. They will also talk with them after surgery.

A nurse will greet you as you arrive in the operating room. The room can be cool and noisy. Let the nurses know if you are not comfortable. They can give you warm blankets.
The nurses will connect monitors to you. This does not hurt. Monitors help the nurses and doctors keep track of how you are doing.
An IV will be placed in a vein in your arm or hand. The anesthesiologist will give you medicine in your IV to put you to sleep. A mask may be placed over your nose and mouth to help you breathe.
A tube is placed in the back of your mouth and throat. This gets air to your lungs while you are asleep. They will put the tube in after you are asleep. This tube is usually taken out before you wake up.
When you are asleep, the doctors will start. You will lie on your stomach. Your arms and legs will be supported with pads. Your back will be washed before starting.
The surgery takes about 4 hours, but you will be in the operating room a total of 4 to 5 hours.

Neuromuscular spinal fusion care recovery is different. See Neuromuscular recovery plan.