Preparing your child or adolescent for surgery can be anxiety‑causing for families. At M Health Fairview, our pediatric anesthesiology team is dedicated to providing safe, compassionate care for infants, children, and adolescents—treating every patient as if they were our own. This page walks you through our approach to anesthesia, the types of anesthesia we use, and what to expect before, during, and after your child’s procedure, so you feel informed, supported, and confident in your child’s care.
Overview
We understand: Preparing your child or adolescent for surgery or a procedure can be anxiety-causing for all involved. You know they will receive excellent care, but you may still worry about how your child will feel during and after the procedure.
At M Health Fairview, trust that your child is in good hands with caring and experienced physicians who will prepare and guide their care, before, during, and after surgery. Our team of specialized pediatric anesthesiologists focus solely on the care of infants, children, and adolescents. They will take time to answer your questions and walk you through what to expect. They thoroughly prepare for each child’s case before treatment to ensure they remain safe and pain-free during their medical procedure, and that each child’s unique needs are met – no matter if your child needs regional anesthesia, IV sedation, or general anesthesia.
Our pediatric anesthesiologists strive to provide all patients with a calm and comfortable experience during their time at the hospital and in recovery – treating every patient as if they were a family member.
Our approach
As pediatric anesthesiologists, our mission is to provide high-quality care for all of our pediatric patients in an environment guided by compassion, respect, and partnership with your family. When a young patient is in our care, we take on the responsibility for their safety and comfort during their procedure. We also strive to ensure children feel comfortable as they come out of anesthesia, as they recover in the hospital, and when they return home.
Our status as an academic medical system sets us apart from other pediatric anesthesiology departments in the Twin Cities. Strong ties to the University of Minnesota provide us with an innovative, evidence-based approach to care that we apply in clinical settings to ensure the best, most-effective clinical methods are available to families in our community. In particular, we are known for collaborating with surgeons on complex procedures, like cardio-thoracic surgery and organ transplants, among others.
Our team is skilled in a variety of anesthesia techniques, including:
General anesthesia: Usually given through a mask in children, this method helps a child enter a calm, sleep-like state so they don’t experience any pain during a surgery.
IV sedation: Sedation involves placement of an IV to give medication that relaxes and calms a child ahead of and during a procedure.
Regional anesthesia: This method, also given through an IV or injection, numbs the nerves in a specific limb or area of the body (often from the waist down), allowing a child or adolescent to remain awake, if wanted or needed, but pain-free during a surgery or procedure.
Before surgery or a procedure, our anesthesia team will review your child's medical record and details. Then, we’ll spend time meeting with you and your child, so you know what to expect every step of the way. You’ll have a chance to ask questions, learn about the medications used and anesthesia process, and receive directions for pre- and post-procedure care.
When preparing for your child’s procedure, make sure that you closely adhere to any guidelines that we provide ahead of time. It’s particularly important to follow certain eating and drinking rules before the time of anesthesia. If they aren’t followed, it can cause complications and your surgery may need to be rescheduled.
During the procedure, we will be there with your child to monitor their vital life functions and control their level of medication and consciousness to make sure conditions are safe and ideal for a successful surgery. We will also ensure that your child is free from pain and anxiety before and after surgery.
All of our providers specialize in working with infants, children, and adolescents. To support their work, a team of certified Child-Family Life specialists can help prepare children emotionally and mentally for their procedures and teach them coping strategies. We take into consideration the age and developmental stage of our patients when communicating and providing support for them, including informed consent for anesthesiology for kids above the age of 12. No matter what age, treatment is personalized for the individual child we are caring for, and we tailor our approach to meet their needs.