Postoperative Instructions (Pediatric Surgery)

Patient Name: [Patient name]
Date of Birth: [Date of birth]
Date of Surgery: [Date of surgery]
Procedure: [Patient-friendly procedure name]
Surgeon/Team: [Surgeon and team names]
Clinic Phone: [Clinic phone number]
After-Hours/Urgent Line: [After-hours phone number]

When to Get Help

Call the surgical clinic or after-hours line today if you see:

• Fever of [Temperature threshold] or higher
• Redness, warmth, or swelling around the incision that is getting worse
• Thick yellow or green drainage (pus) or a bad smell from the incision
• The incision opens or the edges pull apart
• Pain that is not controlled with the plan below
• Throwing up again and again or cannot keep fluids down
• Signs of dehydration: very dry mouth, no tears, no pee for [Number] hours, or very sleepy
• New rash, hives, swelling, wheezing, or other signs of an allergic reaction

Call 911 or go to the emergency room now for:

• Trouble breathing or breathing that is very slow or very fast
• Blue or gray color of lips, face, or skin
• Bleeding that will not stop with firm pressure
• A seizure (shaking or staring spell)
• Severe allergic reaction: face or tongue swelling, trouble breathing, widespread hives
• Very hard to wake or unusually hard to keep awake (especially if taking strong pain medicine)

Quick Summary

• [What was done and where on the body]
• [What is normal in the first 24–72 hours: expected pain, tiredness, appetite changes]
• [When showering or bathing is allowed, with explicit date]
• [Activity limits and duration, with explicit dates]
• [Starting pain plan: which medicine to give first and how often]
• [Follow-up visit date, time, and location, or how to schedule]

(Keep to 5–7 bullets. Use short phrases. No abbreviations.)

Pain Management

Assessing pain: [How to tell if your child is in pain, appropriate for age]

(For younger children: crying, facial grimace, guarding, less movement. For older children: they can say or point to where it hurts.)

Comfort without medicine:

• [Positioning and support strategies]
• [Distraction ideas: books, games, music, videos]
• [Ice or heat instructions, if allowed] (Only include if approved for this procedure.)

Medicine schedule:

Medication	Dose (mg and mL)	How Often	Maximum per Day
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)	[Dose]	[Frequency]	[Maximum]
Ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil)	[Dose]	[Frequency]	[Maximum]
[Other non-opioid medication]	[Dose]	[Frequency]	[Maximum]
[Opioid medication name]	[Dose]	[Frequency]	[Maximum and number of days]
[Stool softener or laxative]	[Dose]	[Frequency]	[Maximum]

(Include only medications prescribed. Ibuprofen row only if allowed for this surgery. Opioid and stool softener rows only if opioid prescribed. Do not leave dose fields blank—complete before discharge.)

• Do not give any other products that contain acetaminophen. Check all labels.

(Include the following bullets only if an opioid is prescribed:)

• Use the strong pain medicine for the shortest time needed: [Number of days]. Then stop.
• Watch for dangerous side effects: very sleepy, slow or shallow breathing, new or loud snoring, blue lips. If these happen, call 911.
• Store the strong pain medicine in a locked place out of reach of children, teens, and visitors.
• Do not share medicines. Do not drive or operate machines while taking strong pain medicine.
• To prevent constipation, use the stool softener as listed above. Offer water and high-fiber foods as allowed.
• Dispose of unused strong pain medicine at a drug take-back site or follow pharmacy guidance for safe disposal at home.

Caring for Your Child at Home

Incision care:

• Wash your hands before and after you touch the area.
• Keep the area clean and dry. Pat dry. Do not scrub.
• Do not pick at glue, strips, scabs, or stitches.
• Do not put powders, creams, or ointments on the incision unless told to do so.

(Include only the closure type used:)

• Skin glue: The glue will peel off on its own in 7–10 days. Do not pick at it.
• Steri-Strips: The strips will fall off on their own. Do not pull them off.
• Stitches or staples: Keep clean and dry. [Removal plan: dissolving / removed at follow-up on date].
• Dressing: Change as instructed: [Change schedule and instructions].

(Include the following only if a drain is present:)

• Drain care: Empty the drain [Frequency or when half full]. Measure and record the amount each time. Keep the bulb compressed if instructed. Bring your record to follow-up.

Date	Time	Amount (mL)	Color/Notes

Bathing:

• Showering allowed starting: [Date]
• Tub baths and soaking: [Allowed / Not allowed until date]
• Swimming: [Allowed / Not allowed until date]

(Use explicit dates. Complete before discharge.)

Activity and school:

• First 24 hours after anesthesia: quiet play only with an adult watching.
• Return to school or daycare: [Date or criteria]
• Sports and physical activity: [Restrictions and duration with explicit end date]
• [Clearance requirement before resuming full sports] (Only include if required.)

Diet:

• Start with small sips of clear fluids. Add foods as your child feels ready. [Special diet instructions if ordered]
• Goal: Pee at least every 6–8 hours.
• Mild nausea on the first day is common. If vomiting continues or your child cannot keep fluids down, call the clinic.

Follow-Up

• Appointment: [Date, time, and location]
• If no appointment scheduled: Call within [Number] business days to schedule a visit in [Number] days.
• Stitch or staple removal: [Plan with date and location] (Only include if applicable.)
• Test results pending: [What is pending]. We will contact you by [Date] via [Phone / Patient portal]. If you have not heard by [Date], call the clinic. (Only include if results are pending.)

(Use explicit dates. Complete before discharge.)