Pre-Operative Instructions UF Health Shands Hospital The Day before Surgery All patients must be “NPO” – no food or liquids, including water-after the time specified below:
o Newborns to one year of age: If breastfeeding, continue to breast feed as usual. Last breastfeeding at 4:00 am on the morning of surgery. Nothing may be given after 4:00 am. If bottle-feed, last milk/formula/solids at midnight. Clear liquids may be offered at 4:00am. Nothing may be given after 4:00am. o Age one year to two years of age: Last milk/formula/solids at midnight. Clear liquids may be offered at 4:00 am. Nothing may be given after 4:00 am. o Age two years of age and older: No milk/clear liquids/solids after midnight. Offer liquids at 11:00 pm to curb thirst. Please be sure to notify the Pediatric Urology office immediately should your child develop a fever, cold, sore throat, vomiting or diarrhea or has been exposed to a contagious disease such as chicken pox or measles. In such circumstances, the telephone number to call is (352) 273-9454. Immunizations should always be up-to- date. If your child is on any medication, please ask surgeon if medication should be given the morning of surgery or withheld.
The Day of Surgery If your child is having outpatient surgery, you must report to the Ambulatory Surgery Waiting area, across from Admissions, on the first floor of the UF Health Shands Hospital, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608. If your child is having inpatient surgery you must report to Admissions on the first floor of UF Health Shands Hospital. You should arrive at 7:00am if your child is the first operation listed for that day, and no later than 7:30 am for all other cases. Even though your child’s operation may have been tentatively scheduled for a time later than 8:00am, last minute changes are frequent due to unforeseen events such as the development of fevers or colds, with the consequence that earlier starts are often feasible for those patients who are immediately available.
You and your child will be escorted upstairs to the 2nd floor pre-operative holding suite. Once your child has been taken into the operating room, you should go to the surgical waiting area on the 1st floor of the UF Health Shands Hospital where your surgeon can contact you by the telephone at the completion of the procedure.
Your prescription for take-home medication will be provided to you in the post-op holding area.
In the event of any difficulty, you should first attempt to reach your physician at (352) 273-9454, Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. If you are delayed or have any problems the day of surgery you can call the operating room at (352) 265-0023. After hours, please call the UF Health Shands operator at (352) 265-0111 and ask to speak to the urology resident on call. UF Health Children’s Surgical Center The Day before Surgery All patients must be “NPO” – no food or liquids, including water-after the time specified below:
o Newborns to one year of age: If breastfeeding, continue to breast feed as usual. Last breastfeeding at 4:00 am on the morning of surgery. Nothing may be given after 4:00 am, If bottle-feed, last milk/formula/solids at midnight. Clear liquids may be offer at 4:00am. Nothing may be given after 4:00am. o Age one year to two years of age: Last milk/formula/solids at midnight. Clear liquids may be offered at 4:00 am. Nothing may be given after 4:00 am. o Age two years of age and older: No milk/clear liquids/solids after midnight. Offer liquids at 11:00 pm to curb thirst. Please be sure to notify the Pediatric Urology office immediately should your child develop a fever, cold, sore throat, vomiting or diarrhea or has been exposed to a contagious disease such as chicken pox or measles. In such circumstances, the telephone number to call is (352) 273-9454. Immunizations should always be up-to- date. If your child is on any medication, please ask surgeon if medication should be given the morning of surgery or withheld.
The Day of Surgery You must report to the Admitting Department, which is located on the first floor of UF Health Children’s Surgical Center, 720 SW 2nd Avenue, Suite 101, Gainesville FL 32601, Suite 101. You will be called the night before surgery with an arrival time. If you do not receive this call by 4:30 pm the day before, please contact UF Health Children’s Surgical Center at (352) 733-0065 for arrival time. Please understand that delays may happen.
Once you are checked in, you may stay with your child until the time of surgery. There is a two person maximum and they need to be 14 years of age or older. If there are more than two people, as is common with pediatric patients, family members and friends may take turns staying with patient in the Pre-op Holding Area.
In the event of any difficulty, you should first attempt to reach your surgeon at (352) 273-9454, Monday through Friday between 8 am and 5 pm. If you are calling after hours, please call UF Health Shands Hospital at (352) 265-0111 and ask to speak to the Urology resident on call.
After Surgery Your prescription for take-home medication, discharge instructions and return appointment dates will be provided to you in the post-op holding area. If you need to change the date and/or time of this appointment, please call (352) 273-9454. If your child requires a safety seat while riding in a vehicle, please begin planning now to have one available at the time of discharge.