Coming to the Minor Procedure Unit
If your child is coming to the 8C Minor Procedure Unit, they will be given medicine to help them relax or sleep, tailored to their procedure and their individual needs. This keeps your child safe and comfortable throughout their visit. This page will help you know what to expect before, during, and after.
For more important information and resources to help your child prepare for a procedure that requires sedation or anesthesia outside of the operating room at SickKids, visit Coming for a Procedure.
Stop eating and drinking before anesthesia or sedation
Follow the fasting instructions indicated in the Eating & Drinking Guidelines (PDF) or the specific diet or fasting instructions provided by your care team. Your child's procedure may be cancelled if they have eaten or haven’t followed the fasting requirements for liquids.
Any food or liquid in your child's stomach while going to sleep under anaesthesia can flow up to the mouth and pass down into the lungs. This is very dangerous for them.
Bathing at home before a procedure
You play an important role in reducing your child’s risk of infection by bathing or showering before a procedure. Bathing or showering with soap lowers the change of a surgical site infection. Check the instructions from your health-care team to see if your child requires a specific pre-procedure bath.
At home, bathe or shower your child two times before the procedure with soap and water at these times:
- 48 hours (2 days) before procedure
- 24 hours (1 day) before procedure
If your child is sick
If your child is sick in the 2 weeks leading up to the procedure, please contact 416-813-7654 ext. 227502 and leave a message. A nurse will return your call.
Getting ready for procedure day
Arrive 1.5 hours before your procedure time
You will need to arrive on the Minor Procedure Unit (MPU) 1.5 hours before the scheduled procedure time. However if your child's procedure is scheduled for 8 a.m., please arrive at 7 a.m. Your health-care team will give you specific instructions.
Running late? If you are running late, call the MPU team at 416-813-7654 ext. 309497 as soon as you can so the team can plan for your arrival.
What to bring
- Bring your child’s health card, any legal custody documents, and your child’s medications (or a photo of them)
- Wear eyeglasses (do not wear contacts)
- Bring bags for clothing and personal items (depending on the procedure, your child will need to remove personal clothing and accessories and change into a hospital gown)
- On the day of procedure, if your child is having their period, use a pad instead of a tampon
- Tie back long hair with plastic (non-metallic) hair elastics
Youth arriving alone
Youth who arrive alone for their procedure must have a caregiver arrive for after-care and transport home from the hospital. The procedure cannot proceed without a confirmed caregiver for discharge.
What to expect on procedure day
Step 1: Register at the Minor Procedure Unit on 8C
Arrive 1.5 hours before your procedure. If your procedure is scheduled for 8 a.m., please arrive at 7 a.m. When you arrive at SickKids, go to the 8th floor, Atrium, and look for signs for 8C. The Minor Procedure Unit is located on 8C.
A Flow Coordinator will meet you and your child at the Minor Procedure Unit waiting area. They will register your child and place a patient wristband on them.
Step 2: Pre-procedure health assessment
The Flow Coordinator will check your child’s weight and vital signs. You will be shown where your child can change into hospital clothes.
A nurse will ask some questions about your child's health and make sure everything is ready for the procedure.
Step 3: Meeting the anesthesia team and the procedure team
You will meet the anesthesiologist and/or anesthesia assistant. They will explain how your child will receive sedation or anesthesia and what to expect. They will answer any questions you have.
You will meet the doctor who will do the procedure. The doctor will tell you the plan for the procedure. They will also answer any questions you have.
Step 4: The procedure
In most cases, you will be able to come into the procedure room with your child and stay with them while the anesthesia is started. This is not always possible, so the anesthesia team will discuss the plan for your child with you before the procedure.
Once your child is asleep, a team member will walk you out to the waiting area. Your child will receive medications to keep them safe, asleep, and comfortable during the procedure. The anesthesia team will continuously monitor your child throughout the procedure.
Step 5: Recovery
Once the procedure is finished, your child will be taken to the recovery area. The nursing team will monitor your child as they wake up.
A member of the procedure team will speak with you about how the procedure went.
A volunteer will bring you to the recovery room when your child is ready, or you will receive a text or phone call to come to the recovery room when your child is ready.
When your child is awake and comfortable, you will receive discharge instructions before going home.
Step 6: Going home
After the procedure, your child may feel dizzy or sick. If you can, do not take the bus, subway, or streetcar. A car ride home is best.