Going Home After Surgery (Pediatric Surgery)

Before going home, you will have a discharge consultation with a nurse, nurse practitioner, or doctor. During this consultation, the following topics will be discussed:

• Postoperative home care instructions
• Home care rules and restrictions
• Prescribed medications and how to administer them

Only the checked items apply to your child.

Only the checked information applies to your child.

• Your child should not shower during the first 2–3 days after surgery.
• Keep showers short. Gently pat the wound dry after showering.
• If your child has a water-repellent dressing (Tegaderm), it can stay on after showering.
• If your child has a regular dressing, remove it after showering to prevent the wound from softening. If the wound is dry, you do not need to apply a new dressing. If the wound is not dry, apply a new dressing.
• Your child should not take a bath during the first 5 days after surgery.
• When bathing is permitted, limit bath time to 5–10 minutes to prevent the wound from softening.

During the recovery period after surgery, your child may need rest.

• Your child should not attend school or daycare for ___ days/weeks after surgery. After this period, your child may return according to the doctor’s advice.
• Full-day attendance may be tiring at first. It is recommended to discuss partial attendance (for example half days) with the teacher or caregiver.

After surgery, your child may need pain medication and, if necessary, other medicines. The prescribed medications and dosages will be determined by your doctor. (Only the checked and completed medications apply.)

• Paracetamol (suppository/tablet/liquid): ___ mg, ___ times a day
• Diclofenac (suppository/tablet): ___ mg, ___ times a day
• Nurofen (tablet/liquid): ___ mg, ___ times a day
• Tramadol (tablet/liquid): ___ mg, ___ times a day
• Oxynorm (tablet): ___ mg, ___ times a day
• Oxycontin (tablet): ___ mg, ___ times a day
• Forlax/Movicolon: ___ sachets, ___ times a day
• Other medications: __________________________

Example schedule:

Frequency	Morning	Afternoon	Evening	Midnight
4 times a day There must be 6 hours between medication intakes.	06:00	12:00	18:00	00:00
3 times a day There must be 8 hours between medication intakes.	08:00	16:00		00:00
2 times a day There must be 12 hours between medication intakes.	08:00		20:00

The times above are examples. Medications must be administered according to the dosage, starting time, and dosing intervals prescribed by your doctor.

If necessary, administration times may be adjusted by 30–60 minutes.

If a dose is given later than planned, do not skip the medication. Continue according to the actual time given while maintaining the prescribed number of daily doses and required time intervals.

Medications can be collected from the Outpatient Pharmacy located in the Passage of Erasmus MC.

In exceptional cases, medications may be obtained from a local pharmacy. In that situation, the hospital will provide enough medication for the first 24 hours.

As your child’s pain decreases, medication should be reduced gradually. Do not stop all medications suddenly. Reduction should follow this order:

1. First reduce prescription (stronger) pain medications.
2. Then reduce paracetamol. Finally, give paracetamol only if your child has pain.

Your child’s wound may have been closed using one of the following methods:

• Dissolvable Stitches

These stitches dissolve on their own. They do not need to be removed.

• Steri-strip Dressings

These strips support wound healing. Slight loosening of the edges is normal. They usually fall off on their own after approximately 7 days. If they do not fall off, you may gently remove them.

• Non-dissolvable Stitches

These stitches must be removed ___ days after surgery.

The stitches will be removed:

• By your General Practitioner (GP)

or

• During the hospital follow-up appointment

Your doctor will send a discharge letter to your General Practitioner (GP). You can also view the discharge letter via the My Erasmus MC patient portal: www.erasmusmc.nl/patientenzorg/mijn-erasmus-mc

• Your child will return to the hospital for a follow-up examination.

Appointment details will be communicated to you through:

• My Erasmus MC
• E-mail
• Letter by post Blood tests, X-rays, or ultrasound examinations may be required. If so, this will be stated in the appointment notification.

• Your child does not require a follow-up appointment.

Hospital experiences can be challenging for children. Your child may need time to understand and emotionally process what has happened. The following reactions may occur:

• Fear of being alone
• Sleep disturbances
• Bedwetting

These reactions are usually temporary.
If the symptoms persist, please contact your General Practitioner (GP).

Your child may require physiotherapy at home. If needed, you will receive a referral letter.

Within the first 2 weeks after surgery, contact us without waiting if your child develops any of the following symptoms:

• Fever above 38.5 °C
• Redness or signs of infection at the wound site
• Increasing swelling around the wound
• Severe pain that does not improve with medication
• Persistent vomiting
• No urine output through the catheter (if a catheter is in place)
• No bowel movement for 3 days or diarrhea lasting more than 3 days

If any of these symptoms occur, do not wait — contact the hospital without waiting. For other health concerns, please contact your General Practitioner (GP).

Monday – Friday, 08:00–16:30
Pediatric Surgery Office: (010) 704 20 40

Outside these hours
Pediatric Surgery Ward: (010) 703 61 84

After 2 weeks following surgery
Please contact your General Practitioner (GP).

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