Le Bonheur offers surgical procedures at two locations:
- Le Bonheur East Surgery Center, 786 Estate Place
- Le Bonheur Children's Hospital (main campus), 848 Adams Avenue
Before Surgery
Here are some ways to prepare for your child’s surgery:
Pre-Operative Preparation Tour
Le Bonheur's Child Life team offers free pre-operative preparation tours to give patients a chance to build trust, gain control over the experience and see the sights, sounds and events that will occur the day of the procedure. Child life specialists are specially trained in helping children and families cope with hospitalization and illness. To schedule a pre-op tour, please call 901-287-6021. If you can't make it to the hospital for a tour, please watch the pre-operative preparation video.
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Pre-Operative Screening Assessment
A nurse from the pre-op screening office will contact you by phone two to seven days prior to your child's surgery to gather registration information. An appointment may be required prior to surgery if medically necessary. If you have any questions, call the pre-op screening office at 901-287-6273.
The Day Before Surgery
- You will receive a phone call from our team the afternoon of the day before your surgery to let you know what time to arrive at Le Bonheur.
- Make sure your child is healthy. If your child is not feeling well, please call your hospital contact.
- Follow all the instructions your child’s surgeon provided, particularly regarding eating, drinking and medication use.
- Make necessary arrangements to stay at the hospital during your child’s surgery, dress comfortably and arrange for help, if needed, to go home with your child. If required, make a plan for staying overnight with your child.
- Remove any jewelry on your child and leave it at home so that nothing is misplaced. Remove any nail polish your child might be wearing.
The Day of Surgery
Parking at Le Bonheur
The day of your surgery you will park in our patient/family parking garage located at 130 N Manassas St, Memphis, TN 38105. Once you are parked you can follow the signs that point you to the main entrance of the hospital.
Arriving at the Hospital
If having surgery at Le Bonheur's main campus, your first stop will be the surgery registration area on the hospital's 2nd Floor. There is a large lobby area with televisions, tables and comfortable chairs for you and your family to wait. When it is time for surgery, a staff member will call your child’s name and direct you back to the surgery area.
Just Before Surgery
- Your child will change into a hospital gown and receive an ID bracelet with his/her name, birth date and hospital ID number.
- Your child’s vital signs will be taken, and many of the same questions you have already answered will be asked again to ensure your child’s safety during the operation.
- An anesthesiologist will come and answer any last questions or concerns you may have regarding your child’s sedation for surgery.
- Your child will have a chance to smell the different anesthesia flavors and pick between grape, peppermint, bubble gum, etc.
- Your child’s surgeon will come and speak to you and your child one final time.
Surgery
Depending on age, your child will have the option of walking or being wheeled back to surgery. Each child gets to walk through Bunny Lane on the way to surgery to pick out a toy or game to take home after surgery. Once in the operating room, the team will double check your child’s vital signs and medical chart.
You will be updated throughout your child’s surgery, so it is best to stay nearby if possible. Operating room staff can text or call your cell phone if needed, but make sure to give them the necessary information.
After Surgery
When your child’s surgery is complete, your child will be taken to the recovery room, also called the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). There, nurses, anesthesiologists and other team members will closely monitor your child. You will be brought to the recovery room to spend time with your child after surgery. Anesthesia can have varying effects, and it is common for your child to act abnormally. If you have any concerns, talk to a member of the PACU team. Length of stay in the PACU depends on a number of factors. Depending on your child’s care plan, you may either help him/her get dressed to go home or go to your child’s hospital room.
If your child is going home the same day, you will receive a note for school, information about follow-up and a prescription for pain medication. You can fill your prescription at the Le Bonheur or your preferred pharmacy.
If your child stays overnight, you will be able to stay with your child.
Your Experience
Our hope is that your child’s stay with us exceeds your expectations. However, if you have questions or concerns, please speak with your child’s nurse first. If there is a problem that is not being resolved, then ask to speak with the nursing leader on your floor or unit or the Le Bonheur patient advocate. Our patient advocates serve as a liaison between the hospital staff and patients and families and can assist in problem resolution.
