The anesthesiologist and nurse anesthetist will begin giving anesthesia to your child. Once your child is asleep under anesthesia, the operating room team will begin their work. The team members include the anesthesiologist, nurse anesthetist, circulating nurse, scrub nurse/tech, and the surgeon.

First, the anesthesiologist and the circulating nurse place monitors onto your child to help safeguard them throughout the procedure. These monitors include the blood pressure cuff, the EKG and the pulse oximeter. If an IV is necessary and was not started earlier for medication, the anesthesiologist will start one at this time. Then, the nurse anesthetist will protect your child's airway and support your child's breathing while your child is asleep. A small breathing tube may be placed in your child's airway to help with their breathing.

Before surgery begins, the circulating nurse stops all activity to confirm with everyone present what will be done and recheck your child's ID bracelet. This is one of the many steps taken to ensure your child's safety. To prepare the surgical site the area will be washed and shaved when necessary.

In the case of a long procedure the circulating nurse may phone the waiting area to keep you updated on the progress of the surgery. A tracking monitor in the family waiting room helps you know where your child is in the surgery process. It is confidential-using numbers instead of names.

When the surgery is over the surgical site may be bandaged. The anesthesia team will stop the anesthetic medicine. Your child will begin to gradually wake up. When your child is stable and ready, the anesthesia team will take your child to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) also referred to as Recovery Room, where a team member will give the PACU nurse the information necessary to care for your child. The surgeon may come to the waiting area to talk with you.