Early post-op recovery

   The patient must be breathing spontaneously with the anesthetic delivery device (usually LMA) removed before being transferred from the operating suite. The initial recovery holding area has many of the same monitoring devices present in the operating room (left photo). A nurse carefully monitors the patient's progress as he or she slowly awakens from anesthesia. Expert anesthesiologists are standing by to intervene if a patient develops any problems during the immediate post-op period.

   As the patient becomes more alert, monitoring devices are removed prior to transport to the individual room where the process started - and where parents or relatives are waiting to provide additional support.