Side effects

Pain after surgery varies greatly from child to child. Children that wake up with pain usually settle quickly after receiving more pain medication. This is either given through their drip or as a syrup. Many children are given paracetamol as a premed to help with pain when they wake up.

Nausea and vomiting affect about one in every 10 children undergoing anaesthesia and this usually settles quite quickly. There is a greater risk if your child has a history of sickness with anaesthesia or motion sickness. Some types of surgery such as eye surgery or ear, nose and throat surgery increase the risk of nausea. Your anaesthetist will be aware of this and give your child medication to try prevent this.

A sore throat and hoarse voice may be caused by the breathing tube used as part of the anaesthetic. This can last for a day or two.

Inserting cannulas into children can be difficult. Several attempts may be required, particularly in babies and toddlers. Bruising at the sites of insertion may occur but will fade quickly.

Regional anaesthesia numbs the skin and muscles to a certain part of the body that has been operated on. Some children dislike the numb feeling or the weakness with the block. Most blocks work very well but sometimes additional pain medication will be added. Serious complications such as nerve damage, bleeding and infection are rare. These can be discussed with your anaesthetist.

Some children have temporary behavioural changes after being in hospital such as clinginess, fear of strangers or bedwetting. These usually settle in a short time.