On the day of the surgery:

• Your child will usually be asked not to drink or eat anything after midnight the night before surgery.
• Give your child any drugs your doctor told you to give with a small sip of water.
• Your child's doctor or nurse will tell you when to arrive at the hospital.
• The doctor will make sure your child has no signs of illness before surgery. If your child is ill, the surgery may be delayed.

It is common for children to stay in the hospital for 1 week. How long your child stays will probably depend on the level of discomfort after surgery.

Pain is common after the surgery. For the first few days, your child may receive strong pain medicine in the vein (through an IV) or through a catheter placed in the spine (an epidural). After that, pain is usually managed with medicines taken by mouth.

Your child may have tubes in the chest around the surgical cuts. These tubes drain extra fluid that builds up and help the lungs expand. The tubes will remain in place until they stop draining, usually after a few days.

The day after surgery, your child will be encouraged to sit up, take deep breaths, and get out of bed and walk. These activities will help healing.

At first, your child will not be able to bend, twist, or roll from side to side. Activities will slowly be increased.

When your child can walk without help, he or she is probably ready to go home. Before leaving the hospital, you will receive a prescription for pain medicine for your child.

Improvements in appearance are usually good. Improvements in breathing or ability to exercise varies from patient to patient.

Images

Pectus excavatum

• < Page
1 2 3
• >

Review Date: 01/24/2011
Reviewed By: Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)