Surgical Short Stay: Discharge information sheet

Your child may experience some pain after surgery. You may have been given some regular and ‘as needed’ medications to help manage the pain at home.

Uncontrolled pain describes pain that causes distress and continues even after giving the pain relief medications your child has been asked to take. 

If you are concerned your child is experiencing uncontrolled pain, seek medical attention from your GP or nearest Emergency Department. 

You should seek medical attention if your child shows any signs of breathing difficulty, or if you notice any concerning changes in their regular breathing pattern.

You should seek medical attention from your nearest Emergency Department if your child experiences any fresh bleeding from their wound or surgical sites.  

Sometimes children can have fevers following a General Anaesthetic.

You should seek medical attention from your GP or nearest Emergency Department if your child has a fever that does not come down after giving Paracetamol (Panadol) or Ibuprofen (Nurofen), or as advised by your child’s treating doctors. 

Sometimes children do not want to eat and drink as much as normal. It is important to encourage drinking to keep your child well hydrated. Check your child is passing urine regularly.

You should seek medical attention if your child is refusing to drink enough fluids or has passed less than half their usual amount of urine.

Sometimes after surgery, children can appear drowsy or want to sleep more than usual, particularly after a General Anaesthetic.

You should seek medical attention if your child is difficult to wake, or they appear excessively drowsy.