Getting ready for surgery
To help you and your family prepare for surgery, we’ve compiled Children’s Minnesota resources specific to parents, teens and kids.
Planning for surgery checklist
About the checklist
If your child is scheduled for surgery at Children’s Minnesota, please carefully review the following checklist to help you prepare and ensure your child’s surgery stays on schedule.
Pay special attention to these items marked with an exclamation mark icon in the checklist. You must do these things or your surgery could be canceled or delayed:
Scroll links to required checklist items
- Schedule a pre-surgery exam with our pre-surgical clinic or your primary care clinic.
- Complete registration for surgery.
- Get documentation from your child’s specialty providers (if applicable).
- Get documentation of legal guardianship (if applicable).
- Have a phone call with a Children’s Minnesota nurse before surgery.
- Follow the eating and drinking stop times.
- The child’s legal guardian must be present on the day of surgery to sign the consent form.
As soon as surgery is scheduled
Schedule a pre-surgery exam with our pre-surgical clinic at 612-813-7474 or with your child’s primary care clinic.
Required! Without this step your surgery could be canceled or delayed. Highlight it on your calendar.
Your child must have the exam within 30 days before surgery. Your child can receive their pre-surgical exam with Children’s Minnesota by calling 612-813-7474. If you receive your pre-surgery exam from your primary care provider please ask your primary care provider please ask for a copy of the completed Medical History and Physical Exam Form (PDF file) to be faxed to Children’s Minnesota at 612-813-7704.
Also ask your primary care provider to give you a copy of the completed Medical and Physical Exam Form and bring it with you on the day of surgery.
Required! Without this step your surgery could be canceled or delayed. Highlight it on your calendar.
Complete the online registration form or call 612-813-7900.
Get documentation of legal guardianship (if applicable).
Required! Without this step your surgery could be canceled or delayed. Highlight it on your calendar.
Documentation of legal guardianship may be required if the patient is in foster care, county custody or adopted. The child’s legal guardian must be present on the day of surgery to sign the consent form. Without this step, your surgery could be canceled or delayed. Highlight it on your calendar.
Only the patient’s legal guardian(s) may be entered in the patient’s medical record.
The guardian is legally responsible for the patient and may make decisions regarding their medical treatment and care.
If you have questions, please call one of our social workers Monday-Friday, 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m.:
Get documentation from your child’s specialty providers (if applicable).
Required! Without this step your surgery could be canceled or delayed. Highlight it on your calendar.
If your child sees any specialty providers for certain health needs (e.g. heart, breathing, hormone, blood disorders, etc.) please call these providers’ offices to let them know your child is scheduled for surgery. Ask for documents or orders you may need from them.
- You must have copies of your child’s visit summaries from your child’s most recent specialty appointments sent to Children’s Minnesota.
- Please ask your provider(s) to fax these documents to Children’s Minnesota at least two days before surgery. Fax: 612-813-7704.
Plan for time away from work.
Make arrangements for siblings/other children and pets.
Visiting guidelines for Children’s Minnesota surgery allow two adults on the day of surgery and no siblings or other children. Review our current visiting guidelines.
Schedule an optional surgery center tour.
The week before surgery
Have a phone call with a Children’s Minnesota nurse two to four days before surgery.
Required! Without this step your surgery could be canceled or delayed. Highlight it on your calendar.
A Children’s Minnesota nurse will call you two to four days before surgery. The nurse will do a health assessment, provide information on arrival time, parking, when your child needs to stop eating and drinking before surgery, and answer any questions you have.
If you haven’t received a call from a Children’s Minnesota nurse the day before surgery, or if you have questions please call 612-813-7010.
If your child becomes sick before the day of surgery, please call our Pre-Procedure Assessment Center at 612-813-7010.
A nurse will evaluate if your child is safe to proceed with surgery or your child can be seen in our pre-surgical clinic for evaluation.
Call your insurance company.
Ask your insurance company about cost, and if you need prior authorization for the surgery procedure. If you have questions about financial assistance, call Children’s Minnesota financial counseling at 612-813-6432.
Get labs or additional medical testing if required by surgeon.
If your child takes a GLP-1 medication, please stop use one week before surgery.
GLP-1 medications slow stomach emptying, which can increase risk of complication during anesthesia. Inform your child’s surgeon and anesthesiologist if your child takes this medication. Examples of GLP-1 medications include Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Victoza, Saxenda, Trulicity, Byette and Adlyxin.
Set a reminder to stop eating and drinking.
Plan to pick up your child’s medications after surgery.
Both Children’s Minnesota Minneapolis and St. Paul hospitals have a pharmacy, so you can save yourself a trip to a different location. The Children’s Minnesota Surgery and Specialty Center in Minnetonka does not have a pharmacy.
Arrange for transportation to and from the Children’s Minnesota surgery center.
Arrange for an adult caregiver for your child while they are recovering after surgery at home, if you can’t be there yourself.
Notify your child’s school or daycare provider of their planned absence.
Ask the school if there are any forms you will need to turn in when your child returns to school.
Create a packing list.
Plan to have your child’s favorite beverages at home.
Drinking plenty of fluids is important after surgery.
The day before surgery
If you have not received a call from a Children’s Minnesota nurse, or if you have questions, please call us at 612-813-7010.
If your child is sick the day before surgery, call the Pre-Procedure Assessment Center at 612-813-7010.
Know your arrival time for surgery.
A nurse will confirm your arrival time during the nurse phone call before surgery. Please check any phone messages you get from the surgery center. Plan to arrive early to allow time for parking and check-in.
Plan to stay in the surgery center during surgery so you are available for updates and questions from the care team.
Confirm transportation to and from the Children’s Minnesota surgery center.
Review eating and drinking stop times.
Clean out the car seats.
Make sure there are no food items in the car that your child could eat.
Wash your child’s comfort items (blankets, toys, etc.).
Remove your child’s nail polish and jewelry.
Give your child a bath or shower and wash their hair before bedtime.
Put clean sheets and pillowcases on your child’s bed and pillows before bedtime.
The day of surgery
Follow eating and drinking stop times.
Required! Without this step your surgery could be canceled or delayed. Highlight it on your calendar.
The child’s legal guardian must be present on the day of surgery to sign the consent form.
Required! Without this step your surgery could be canceled or delayed. Highlight it on your calendar.
Bring all required documentation:
- Accompanying adults must bring their driver’s license or photo ID
- Copy of Medical History and Physical Exam Form (PDF file)
- Insurance cards
- Copies of required documents not yet sent to Children’s Minnesota, such as clearance from specialty providers and legal guardianship documents (if applicable)
- List of medications your child is taking (It helps to bring the medications with you.)
Bring any home medical equipment your child needs (such as a BiPap, ventilator, etc.)
Bring the items listed on your packing list.
If your child becomes ill on the day of surgery, please call the Children’s Minnesota Surgery Center
Arrive on time
Allow extra time for traffic, weather, parking and check-in. We do not close for bad weather. You will check in at the Welcome Center desk when you arrive at Children’s Minnesota. Staff will then direct you to the Surgery Center.
