Post-anesthesia Instructions

Eating or Drinking

Limit oral intake to clear liquids for the first few hours. Begin with water and follow with liquids such as sport drinks, clear juice and soda as tolerated. If teeth were extracted, do not use a straw. Food can be consumed following liquids as tolerated. Suggestions are soft foods such as scrambled eggs, applesauce, mashed potatoes, and soups. If your child is not hungry, do not force him/her to eat, but encourage as much liquid as tolerable. Local anesthetics numb the lips and tongue, so watch out that your child doesn’t bite or chew on themselves.

Activity

Do not engage in moderate to high level physical activity for 24 hours and/or until the effects of the anesthetic has completely subsided. The effects of anesthesia may be seen for the remainder of the day and the patient may be groggy and lethargic. This is normal and should resolve by the next day. Children should be under supervision for the remainder of the day.

Nausea and Vomiting

This is the single most common side effect of anesthesia. If you notice this, continue encouraging water intake to avoid dehydration. It may be possible to have vomiting for as long as a whole day. If high fever results, contact the anesthesiologist.

When to call the anesthesiologist

• If vomiting persists beyond 3 hours
• If temperature remains elevated beyond 24 hours or goes above 101° F
• If patient is having difficulty breathing