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After
surgery most children are transferred from the Operating Theatre suite to
the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for close monitoring during this
phase of their care. The PICU is constantly staffed by specialist nurses and
doctors. In this setting immediate family members continue the holistic family
centred care approach – (visitor numbers are limited though). During
this phase, a child may have tubes and wires attached to them. As they recover,
these will be removed.
Once stable, the child is transferred to the Children’s Ward.
An
IV (intravenous) tube inserted into a vein in the child’s arm or neck
is used to deliver medicine, fluids and nutrients via an IV bag attached
to a mechanical pump. This is used when a child is unable to eat or drink.
When the IV bag is nearly empty, the pump will give an alert beep for the
care team to respond.Cots/Beds
Small
babies have a specially designed “open” cot, which helps control
the baby’s temperature and children are cared for in a bed. Warm blankets
are also available.
Feeding
Sometimes instead of an IV tube the child will have a feeding tube in their
nose or mouth. This tube goes all the way to the stomach and is called a nasogastric
tube. Having tubes in the nose is not always comfortable but as soon as the
child is well enough to eat and drink for themselves the tube is removed.
Drainage tubes
Usually the child will have a drain or two in their chest, which drains fluid
from the operation site. For a short period the child will also have a tube
called a catheter which goes into the bladder which drains urine into a bag
hanging on the side of the bed. This will mean that the child will not need
to go to the bathroom. The nurses will monitor and chart how much fluid is
going into and out of the child’s body.
Last Updated: December 2003
Last Reviewed: December 2003
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